Her First Trip ~ Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

This is a long waited trip for her. I told her when she was in my stomach: "2-2 Baby (this is her nick name when she is in my womb), when you come out; when you reach 5 months old; we go to Bukit Tinggi. Your Nicole YiYi has planned this for us!" (Thanks Nicole YiYi)

31 May 2013, the day has come. Bukit Tinggi here we come! Since this is an annual Tiew Family trip, we "siap" prepared with itinerary. The trip was so enjoyable for both Annabelle and Abigail as they get to spend so much of time with their cousins.

Abigail is just like the sister, a travel friendly baby! On the journey to Bkt Tinggi, she has a good nap in the car and also was playing with the sister and her toys.

Many had said that:"Oh that is nothing much in Bukit Tinggi, just the French Village!". You know what, for Tiew Family, the trip was not only French Village but "A place for us to gather, enjoy, laugh, relax and also every important "Bonding". There is nothing we shall want. :)

My 1st trip ya!!! How do I looked?!

This is a very very nice photo... Loving it!

Tiew Family Bukit Tinggi Rest & Relax Trip

 

 

 

 

                                   

 

Visit to Zoo Negara

The thought of if Annabelle is ready to see a real elephant, giraffe and also hearing the lion roar in real had stopped me from bringing Annabelle to Zoo Negara at first, but on the 24th May (during the Wesak Holiday) we made a trip there as seeing her having so much of interest in animals. Our thought changed to let her see the real animal instead of the book or TV.

We had great day indeed. We were entertained by the Animal Show. Annabelle was very excited and refused to leave each section after seeing the animal. All that she said was: "See... See... (while pointing to the animals)".

The highlight before leaving home was feeding the elephant. See for yourself ya (in pictures below)... how brave and bravo my daughter is! The mummy will stepped back when the elephant moving closely (malu-nya), the daughter wanted to hand the banana to it... real daring!

Annabelle enjoyed the trip so much that now she can recall the following.

Mummy: "Annabelle, what you fed the elephant?"
Annabelle: "Annana.... (i.e. Banana)"

Mummy: " Where were the hippos when you saw it?"
Annabelle: "Ater (i.e. Water)" ~ We indeed saw two hippos were resting in the water!

Mummy: "How about the tapir, what they were doing?"
Annabelle: "Sleeping"

Mummy finally will asked: "After the elephant ate the banana, what you saw?"
Annabelle (think deeply and answered with a cheeky smile on her face):" AiksS!!! Poo Poo!!!" (this is the exact scene on that day :)

Our plan: Hmmm... to visit Zoo again!

Jie jie and mei mei waiting patiently to go inside the Zoo.

"Ina, I told you the elephant is big! See that!"

 

"Maeh... Maeh... how are you?" (Oh yes, this is what she said to them!) Cute kan!

Family photo!

Bigger family photo

This is what I meant above, "Daring"!

Bye Bye Zoo... We will come again!

Bye Bye "Sippy"

What is "Sippy"? It is a pacifier. Annabelle had it with her since she was 10 days old. Initially we had to use this "secret weapon" because Annabelle use my nipple as her pacificer during nursing and also her suction was so strong that my nipple cracked and bleeded. Then, somewhere along the line, Annabelle called it "Sippy" which I have no idea how it ended as sippy. Probably because she is only supposed to take it when she is sleepy. I remembered blogged  about Pacifier... Pacifier... last year too.

A lot comments, advices and articles on the usage of pacifier onto our little one. Most the time, the feedback I received from people around me is: "Oh.. better to stop her from eating the pacifier because it is bad for her teeth!". As parents we knew it and we intend to, but it is also a difficult process as we do not want to see her crying and have difficult getting to bed due to the lack of it.

Sometime end of last year (she was about 17 months old), she loved to bite on the pacifier which there was a hole on the teat. Ivan and I thought it is the right time to stop her but back in our mind, we thought it is better to just buy one and keep it. You know the parents' syndrome of "Just In Case!"...True enough, that night; when we told her that we need to throw her "sippy" because it has a hole, she cried and keeping saying: "Sippy... Sippy!". As usual, the papa said: "Never mind, give it to her. We will wean her off later!" Since then, she has become more attached to pacifier and she has the habit of biting the teat.

On the 26 April evening, when picking her up from daycare. Annabelle show me her torn "sippy" (technically the top part of the teat is detached from the pacifier), this shows that her teeth are strong, I guess... Then, Auntie Letchumy told her to throw it into the dustbin and she did. That was the last sight of the sippy! (Note: Auntie Letchumy in the daycare does not like the idea of pacifier from day one but she is positive that Annabelle can be wean off from it.)

From then, for the first two weeks; when she sleep at night or having her nap, she did asked for it but I just told her that she was the one that threw it. Moreover, she has learned that cockroaches are found in the dustbin; she I did put a story to it that:"If you wanted your "sippy", mummy will take it but it will be fill with cockroaches and worm. Do you want it into your mouth?". She will reply softly with deep thought:"No..."... (Note: Cruel mummy...!)

This Friday marked 3 weeks she has stopped from her "sippy". Ivan and I are very happy with her her attempts. The process of weaning off so far was smooth and we didn't actually think that we are going to wean her off from pacifier this way. But however, I guess Annabelle is a very understanding girl (as Auntie Letchumy also said), she knows that her "sippy" will not be able to follow her forever, so she also attempted to stop it.

Annabelle in reading in years to come. Mummy would like to tell you:"The cockroaches too do not like your sippy, mummy also does not know if there are any in the dustbin; but all the stories I created is for you to wean off from the "sippy". Papa and mummy love you!"

Papa's artwork on sippy moment

--End of Sippy Eposide--

Selektif Daycare

I am not doing promotion for this daycare but a simple post about it. This is the daycare that I sent both Annabelle and Abigail to when me and Ivan off to work. A good nanny or baby sitter is every working mum's dream. For me, I sent Annabelle to Selektif Daycare back in Oct 2011 when she was just 2 months old. Everyone that I knew did asked : "Hey, your daycare accept infant?", "Do your daycare support breastfeeding and breastmilk feeding?", "Do they have enough caretakers to take care of the kids?". The answer to all these questions was "YES... YES!!" I am not boasting about their service but I have no regret so far sending both my children there. The daycare auntie name is Auntie Letchumy (a.k.a. Amma). She is a very kind, lovely and understanding lady. Our children called the daycare "Amma House".

Just to illustrate a simple daily scenario to you how this daycare support me.
------------------------
Early morning, we will send Annabelle and Abigail to the daycare at about 6.30am to 6.40am. We will leave the place with peace and smile in our heart as we saw a smile on Annabelle's and Abigail's face whenever they are at "Amma House". There are days I will need to send them earlier as I am having 8am classes, Auntie Letchumy will always there to receive the children immediately she heard the car honk.

During the day, as any other baby sitter or nanny will do; they will feed, bath, play and put the children to their nap. As I am still breastfeeding Abigail, Auntie Letchumy is so supportive in that; she will ensure milk are prepared heated up at the right temperature. Something worth highlighting, though this is just a daycare; they loved the children to learn and play well. Very often, I am surprised by some of the arts and crafts work that the children brought home. (As you can see from the pictures, these crafts work are simple but yet it is a way for the children to learn).

Auntie Letchumy like us to work well and she will normally not disturb us at work. The only time she calls us only if the children are not well or if there is another special incidents that needed our attention. Once, I remembered; she called me and told me and apologized that: "Shirley ma, Abigail has two mosquitos bite on her left cheeks; sorry ma... I had applied cream for her, baby is okay! You do not worry but just to inform you!".

At the end of the day, we are supposed to fetch the babies by 6pm but due to our "superb" traffic and jam conditions along our journey back home; we are normally late. If you asked me:" How late?", my answer to that is "8pm". Once when I had my Master classes(while Ivan was away to Australia), I picked Annabelle at 10.15pm. Yes... Night! Late! But, Auntie Letchumy never once complain and gramble.
-----------------------

Annabelle is very close to Amma. When I gave birth to Abigail, she stayed over with Amma at the daycare for 2 nights. Annabelle is like a daughter to Amma.

Also to share, when a lecturer like me loved to hear our students' result to know their progress, so as Auntie Letchumy. Every time, when I send the children to the daycare after their clinic checkup and jab; Auntie Lectchumy will asked: "How her weight?". I guess this is an achievement for her if she knows the child under her care is growing well. :) so cute isn't it!

Having said so many about Auntie Letchumy, now back to the daycare.

The daycare started very small with only 3 children (or less~ I am not too sure) 3 years ago. Auntie Letchumy did not give up, with addition child into the daycare centre, she employed one other helper to assist her. Now the daycare has 7 children and she has 2 helpers to assist her. So, if those mummies that are very particular with "staff vs children ratio", this is 1:2; isn't it good!

Every year, the daycare will have its annual day. 15 Dec 2012 was the last we celebrated the "Selektif Day Care Annual Day". Lots of food, lots of laugh, lots of joy and good memory.

I just pray that everything move on well, hoping that every child that come to Selektif Daycare will stay healthy and enjoy their time in the centre and may our Lord always be with Auntie Letchumy and Uncle (Auntie Husband~Thata to the children) and her staff in whatever they do daily. :)

 

Little Library & Writing Table

While shopping for books in Popular,
she sat down on the floor and flipping on the book

Everyone believed that reading has to be encouraged from young. I do believed in that. In order to start Annabelle on this good hobby, we had invested into an educational programme (if you heard about Grolier) and had set up a small library for Annabelle. When we got all the books through this programme, papa and mummy are very excited to arrange them onto the book shelf (the shelf is one of the item in the package). At the same time, I had 1Malaysia book voucher as I am still a student; I had utilised these voucher for her books.


Her small library

Initially, Annabelle didn't really touch the books there. I was quite worried if she is ever going to pick up a book. Yesterday, while she was watching Doc McStuffins, in one part of the show; it mentioned Moo-Moo. Annabelle got up and ran towards the shelf and pick up the blue tall big book (which is also her favourite) and open to the page showing cow and pointed onto it and say Moo-Moo, Cow! I am so pleased to see her doing it. I praised her!
Besides a library, we also got her a table and 2 stools. She loved to sit on the stool and peel the stickers given to her and stick it on the paper and of course now you can see that the sticker is stuck onto the stools too. She will also messed up the colour pencils and crayons that are in the box. She does not know how draw much, who are the one who drew the most was probably the Mummy, Papa, Grandmother and the Godma. But I guess it is fine, as long as this setup give her an idea that she can use this table for writing.



Study Table & 2 Stools

BF Journey

BF short for Breastfeeding. This acronym should be familiar to most breastfeeding mother.

I started my BF journey back in August 2011 when Annabelle was born. The journey was not too pleasant and rather bumpy at the start as I had sore nipples, low in milk supply, no breast pump at the initial point and also lack of knowledge of BF. But after a period of time, I was okay with this experience and I breastfed Annabelle till she reached 11 months old. She weaned herself from BM - breastmilk.

But for the second pregnancy, I am more prepared and excited about the BF journey. Thus far, I am quite happy with what I am doing. I fully BF Abigail and did not supplement with formula milk for the past two months. I am able to produce more milk this time round and I do have two weeks of breast milk stock in the house freezer. Talking about milk stock, I was very happy that I had produced over 100 begs of BM. A big Hooray for myself! I told Ivan that I will continue this journey till the day that Abigail wean herself from BM. I just hope that with my BM, Abigail will continue to grow to be healthy and happy! :)


I started building my BM stock on the
2nd week into my confinement 

I was very excited! Yield 5oz for the first time
(in comparison to the 1st pregnancy)



I had bundled 5 packets (average of 4-5oz)
into one, labelled it
so that daycare auntie will know
the sequence of date (FIFO).

We trained Abigail on bottle feeding too
beside DL (direct latch) her.

My first time experience able to extract ~7oz
in one pump.
Happy to the max!
 





See carefully on the batch number is No 20.
That means I had produced
100 packets of BM!!! Hooray!



A happy BF baby at 2mo!










Our Papa ~ Ivan Vincent

This post is written as an appreciation from me to my husband, Ivan, and also papa to both my daughters. Though Father's Day is long to come, I like to record this to let both my daughters know their papa's love to them.

My darling has been a good papa to Annabelle since the day I conceived. For the past one year even before Abigail was conceived, Papa has been playing an important role in helping me in taking care of Annabelle. When Abigail is still in my womb, that was a time where Annabelle is so attached to me for attention; Ivan has been there for me in spending time with her from running freely outside the porch, washing fish tank together, "temaning" her in the playland, wrestling with her and many more. During my confinement, he took over my job of bathing and dressing Annabelle up. He did great!


Father and Daughter cleaning the fish tank

Papa & daughter on the boat

"Papa hold me properly..."

Daughter sleeping on papa's shoulder




Papa taking the role of mummy to bath Annabelle
during mummy's confinement month

It is important to know how to carry both daughters
at the same time
 

Since the birth of Abigail, papa's role becoming more important, he has make a BIG decision in temporarily stop serving/teaching the catechism classes on Sunday morning. This is so that he can give me a helping hand on Sunday after church when I am alone in the house.
Papa making sure that he spend most of his time with his daughter, even when he is laying down resting on the weekend; he will help to oversee Abigail. Abigail like to be talk to, she will look into the papa's eye and give the sweetest smile and will also look into his eye and give the most pitiful look so that papa will carry her. On the other hand, Annabelle will treat the papa's stomach as a "slide" she will climb on it and slide down and laugh. He has become a playmate to Annabelle.

I thank God for giving Ivan to me and to this family. Ivan has been very supportive in building this family. I just like to say: "Papa, thank you so much. We love you! Muaks!!!"