Vesak day holiday!

Caden, the chubby boy -- just after we were done with swimming

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We were thinking of going to Takashimaya for window shopping in the afternoon but oma, who were just came back from the church told us that Orchard Road was jammed! Caden and I who were ready to go (while daddy was in the process of changing) decided not to go!

I was really looking forward for this GSS (Great Singapore Sale) but I guess so are the other thousands of people from all over the world AND Singapore. I am planning to buy a new car seat (the one currently could only be used until he is 1 years old), a new camera and not to mention a new clothes for me (some of the one that I owned are too big now...yeyyy!!! ^_^) but until now, just to think of going to the crowded Orchard Road already turned my shopping mood down!

In the end, our Vesak holiday was a stay at home holiday. Daddy was workingggg (from home)!!! From 9am -5pm!!! but he played with Caden every few hours or so for about half an hour each, though! He is so in love with his 'little version of him.' Mommy had the chance to take care of Caden all by myself for close to 5 hoursss!!! hahaa...(suster and the maid were given permission to go out). After I put Caden for his afternoon nap for 2 hours, we then went for a swim together! We had a great time togetherrr!!!

@ Paragon

We went out for lunch to Paragon last Saturday to celebrate daddy's birthday which was fall on Fri, May 25th. Of course we were thinking of having a great time and do some shopping afterwards but goshh....the mall was so crowdeddd!!! It took us about half an hour to just go into the carpark (the way to the carpark jammed completely).

Luckily, we were there a bit early so we didn't have to queue for to get a table (ONE LEFT!) but our plan for shopping was a bit messed up because Caden was in bad mood -- not eating and keep screaming (I was glad the mall was crowded for that -- so his voice wasn't really heard! ^_^) and in the end, he did not finish his food at all; I keep giving him his favorite Gerber star snack for now and I should right away breastfeed him once we were home. And when we put him back to his stroller, he screamed again -- wanted us to carry him instead! At 8kg, he is not light at all!

By the time we went out from the restaurant, there were long queue outside and the mall was even more crowded!! Well...I think we better come back another time when it is less crowded...maybe in the weekdays!

I can stand!

Last week, Caden was spotted standing on his crib by himself! Luckily, Paul and I have once again lowered the crib to a lower position than before. The first time we spotted him was when he woke up in his room and realized that he was alone, so he cried and tried to pull himself up while his eyes were still half closed.

Caden has stronger legs and hands muscle now, he is able to stand-up a bit longer and less shaky and he even able to sit all by himself. Amazing how he can figure it out how to do it himself. It must be his small little brain that does the problem-solving method for him. From lying on his bed, he turns himself unto tummy position, pushes his hands backwards while keeping his legs at the same spot, then he move his hands bit by bit to towards his body and voila…he is sitting by himself!!!

PS: This is mommy’s favorite pajamas! It has the words “Mommy’s handsome boy” on it! ^_^

to the botanic garden

Today is Caden’s 8 months birthday. Mommy tried to make it a little bit special that we went to Singapore Botanic Garden this morning. It was Caden’s first time and my second time there (my first time was sometime in the year of 1999). I forgot how it looks but it definitely looks better that I was expected but unfortunately I really could not stand the heat! It was so hot!!!

We only went to one side of the garden (near the Tanglin Road entrance where we parked our car). It was totally a different experience of going for us where we used to go only to the malls with full AC. Caden was sitting quietly in his stroller, looking around and almost asleep at the end of the trip, maybe the breeze made him sleepy.

I was actually very disappointed that there was only 2 swans left in the ‘swan lake’ --- most of them were being transferred to the ‘Eco-lake’ which is at the other end of the garden, fuihh…there was no way I am going that far!! I thought we could spent more time in the ‘swan lake’ and feed the swan while Caden could learn and actually see the real swan! BUT…the swans were only two and there were playing in the middle of the lake all the time…oh well!

Caden was in his good behavior today, not screaming to be out of his car seat while he was in the car, sitting quietly in his stroller, eating well without any tantrums, and napping good! He may know that today is his 8 months birthday and that he has too be his good behavior from now on as he is a big boy now! Huh…I wish! ^_^

will boys always be boys?

I wonder if having a boy is really more demanding than a girl? People said that boys mostly would be much more active and rougher than girls. Caden in this past few days has tries our patience to a whole new level. He really could not sit still even for a moment, always mobile especially since he is good at crawling now and gives tantrums when he doesn’t get what he wants --- always wants to be carried rather than in his stroller, eats with tantrums, cries when being left alone (even just for two seconds).

*sigh*

One of the hardest is when we have to put him on his clothes after taking a bath or after he dirtied his t-shirt. It has gotten to a point that there has to be suster and I to help him changed. So, while suster put him on his clothes, I distracted him with anything that I could think of --- sometimes lots of kisses from me to his face would work. ^_^

I just hope this is just one phase of his life that would go off soon!

maybe it's impossible

I have been trying to let Caden sleep without AC for his morning and afternoon naps, with consideration so that Caden would not be too dependent on AC, unlike his father. But well, maybe the phrase 'like father - like son' is right.

Since Caden is able to crawl perfectly, he loves to move around -- could not sit still even for a moment. Him being so active and the extremly hot weather in Singapore for this past few weeks makes him sweat a lot!!

The interesting thing is, Caden sweat more on his head than his body. His bald head would be covered by beads of sweats while most of the time his clothes would still be dry.

Anyway, It think I need to postpone my goal for Caden to be less dependent on AC...at least for now (until the weather gets better here). I think he would not be feeling comfortable napping with his head and body all covered in sweats. ^_^

is it time for the second child?

Caden -- GOD's most precious gift to me!

shopping @ Toys R' Us --- Caden first time sitting in a shopping cart

The happiness and love that Caden brought into our life is beyond measure. Now as Caden gets older, many of our friends and family encourage us to have our second child soon.

While one of the arguments would be for Caden to have friend/s at the same age group, I tend to see it differently. Caden is now the center of all our attention – he is the first child, first grandchild from both side of the family and first great-grandchild, too, therefore he gets attention from practically everybody, particularly from Paul and I. I would feel bad if I were to have another child when Caden is still too young to understand that he has to ‘share’ mom’s and dad’s love to another little person (who usually need more attention than him). I think waiting until Caden is 3-4 years would be better for him, I hope that by that time he would understand more and had already get enough of my love and attention

There are lots of pros (and just as many cons!) to have children closer together but for me having a sister that is almost the same age as mine (only 1.5 years apart) was not totally a wonderful experience, I believe farther apart would be much better for siblings. The bigger one would be able to take care of the smaller one and guide him/her as the older brother.

Well, when weigh things up there's never a 'right' time to have a second baby. Ask any mother and she'll tell you that life is certainly very challenging with two children, whatever the age gap. However, choosing the right time to have a second baby is a very personal decision. If you ask any group of parents you're likely to find that they'll be equally split between having children close together and spacing births apart. As for my family, after all consideration, we think we rather wait for a while and give Caden all the attention while preparing him for the arrival for his brother/sister through sharing and some other ways to make him accept him/her as his friend, not the enemy.

@ Takashimaya fountain

Posing with mbak rus (our maid) and suster @ Takashimaya fountain

Caden was in a bad mood...so suster give him the pacifer to make him calmer

pincer grasp

Caden's hand-eye coordination is getting better everyday. He loves transferring objects from one hand to the other. At almost 8 months, he is perfecting his pincer grasp, which lets him pick up small objects between his thumb and forefinger. He'll soon be able to use a spoon and fork in no time! At mealtime, he holds his spoon it in his hands trying to keep it steady. It is so cute to see him trying to put his favorite Gerber 'star' snack into his mouth with his hands....although he has not been sucessful most of the time, I know he will be able to do it soon!

Caden -- the footballer!!

just the two of us

last day of the spring term

Today is the last day of the spring term. Teacher Amy said we could bring anyone we want and take a lots of pictures too -- she said it's 'show' day today. So Mommy and suster had take about close to 100 shoots and come out with few good ones.

PS: Today attendance was 1 boy (that is Caden) with 4 pretty 'older' girls (Amanda, Emi, Daisy and Lara). He was indeed a Prince among Pricessess. ^_^

Fish fish fish...

Entranced by the fishes in the tank at the basement of Wisma Atria

This is the second time Caden has been here. Initially in the first trip, he was afraid to be put in the front of the aquarium and wanted me to carry him the whole time. But today, he was enjoying himself throroughly, examining the fishes swimming in the tank. He was quite upset when he knew we were going home! It's okay Caden, I know you love the fishes so we'll be back soon!! ^_^

my first potty

I bought this potty from Mothercare and had been encouraging Caden to do his number 2 there in the morning for the past 5 days. And today my efforts have paid off! Caden sucessfully made a poop! -- a lottt!!! --I could have started potty training him when he is older but I thought starting him earlier would make him less dependant on his diaper and therefore make the process faster.

Every morning, as he wakes up, Caden would go 'ergghhhh....' even though his eyes are still half open! I was bewildered as he would do that every single morning, but I thought it was a good chance to get his used to using a potty. Suster and I would rush him to the potty as soon as Caden gives us the cue!

The good thing is, he doesn't seem to be bothered to have to sit on his potty for 10 to 15 minutes every morning and listening to Suster and I make the 'errrgghh' sound in order to encourage him to defecate!

My wish for Caden is for him to no longer be dependant on a diaper to poop, soon!

Super Happy Caden..

Caden was really happy this afternoon! He laughed so hard when I did peek-a-boo with him and when I was bouncing a ball in front of him. It was so cute, him laughing with no teeth at all! Yup! Next monday is his 8 months birthday and there is still no sign of his teeth coming just yet!

"abang-abang" style eating

This is how Caden eat sometimes. He would lift up one of his legs to make himself more comfortable eating. Like an "abang-abang" (man) in a "warung" (small stall)! It's not very obvious with the booster seat partly covering his legs. I just hope that he will not do that when he is older and able to sit on a normal chair -- it would definitely look impolite.

His meal times are so much better now! We are able to feed him with ease. He is able to finish most of his food without struggling these few days. The trick is to change his spoon! Haha.... It never crossed my mind to do that but suster happened to use a stiffer spoon instead of the more flexible one we usually use. And voila!

PS: The blue and yellow stripes on his knee is acually his "knee-pad" to give him more comfort as he masters the art of crawling.

went to Thai Express...

Went to Thai Express @ Paragon yesterday. Caden was so excited being there, he bangs the table again again. I think the thought of being in a crowded and loud place brought a new side of the world to Caden -- so different from home.

PS: The picture of Caden with daddy was taken at the lift at home. Daddy was still looking for a parking when mommy took the other picture at Thai Express. Parking was crazy last weekend, the Great Singapore sale had just begun and Indonesia was having a long weekend! Orchard was full! PACKED!

perfect crawling and sitting

At 7 1/2 months, Caden now had perfected his sitting and crawling skill

double eye lids

When Caden was still inside my tummy, I used to hope that Caden would get his father's eyes (big, round with double eye lids and curvey eyelashes). But unfortunately, he has small round eyes similar like mine. My auntie used to say that Caden's double eye lids would developed later on just like her sons -- which are my cousins. Though I want Caden to have big round eyes, I did not put my hope too high, until about 3 days ago when Caden's left eye developed a double eye lids. hehehee...so cutee... now, Caden has one eye a litle bit bigger than the other one! Well, hope the other double eye lids come soon!

sleeping time

My sleeping 'handsome' is at the far end of the chart for sleeping time. hehe...yes, this baby likes to sleep! With night time sleeping from 7pm to 7am straight -- woke up 3-4 times for milk or sometimes he just wants to cuddle to me and day time nap about 3-4 times lasting 1-3 hours each depending on how tired he is. Currently, at 7 and 1/2 months, his total sleeping time will be about 14-16 hours per day. WOW!!!

PS: I think soon, I have to tought him how to sleep through the night without him wanting to cuddle or have some night time milk! I think he is big enough for that. Some of my friends had tought their child since they were 3 months old.

playing with my toiletries case...

Caden loves to play with his toiletries basket -- it's a container that we put his gromming stuff (hair lotion -- very very important, vaseline, baby oil, cotton buds, etc and medicines). But now it is becoming one of Caden's many toys. Caden hates putting on his clothes. In fact, I think Caden used to be the son of Tarzan! *_* He will wail and struggle (EVERY SINGLE TIME) so whenever that happens I will give him this blue basket. He will lose himself in exploring his many hair products therefore forgetting that he is being changed! How convenient! :D

It does take lots of ingenuity to be a mother.

in oma's car

At last Caden can try out oma's new car -- of course without his car seat installed. Yup..the reason why Caden has never ridden on oma's car is that oma doesn't want the new leather to be scratched by Caden's extremely heavy car seat. But today we visited a friend who has just given birth to a baby girl, living in a service apartment nearby. So...ehem...Caden was not in his carseat today and I know he likes it that way!!! hehe... but sorry son, this apply only for today! We have to put you in your carseat next time, it's for your own safety!

how wonderful GOD's creation is...

I know there are lots of pictures of Caden in the pool but I can't resist posting this picture in the blog...he looks so cute with his eyes closed tight, being ready to be submerged into the water. I am surprised how smart he is at this young age where he could not even communicate through verbal words but yet understands more than we know! We only tought him a few times by counting "one two and three" and then submerged him into the water and now he already understand it fully what's going to happen after the count of three.

Above everything else, I think I am amazed of how God's able to create this wonderful person in him -- how he has grow so much this past 7 months and can't thank GOD enough of his grace to allow me to be his mother. I pray and hope that I would be given the strength and wisdom (lots and lots of it) to be a good friend and mother in Caden's life.

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my boby and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-and how well I know it."

Psalm 139:13-14

PS: ii Valerie took the picturess...!! thanks i...

spiderman 4 - son of spiderman

Caden's new and dangerous hobby! Crawling to the end of the bed and stay there for a few seconds and wailing for us to let go of his leg as he wants to continue his journey downwardss!!! Caden, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS!!! So now, we cannot leave him out of our sight even for just a few seconds!

with Oma's flowers

Oma had just bought these pretty flowers for our living room but unfortunately it won't live for long! So oma told Caden to take pictures with them so "it will not wasted," says Oma. Hahaha as you wish Oma! These flowers cost so much and is Caden continues grabbing the flowers it will die even sooner!!

spoon-handle chewer

This is what happens when we give Caden his spoon at meal time -- he chews on the handle, not the part which should go into the mouth! SOON I have to teach him that what he does is not right!!! It's difficult to teach him now... He's still too young to understand! The moment I let go of the spoon, he will turn it up-side-down again! *_*

terrible seven???

Today is the 4th day of Caden's Terrible Seven (he is 7 months old)! Hehe…not really the kind that you find in two years old toddler but similar….I hope! *finger crossed* ^_^

These past few days, meal times have been very difficult for all of us. Caden doesn’t seem to have an appetite. He would just lock his lips or snatch the spoon (which makes the food land on his face, hands, body and his booster chair) or worse, pushing the spoon away which makes the food fly all over the place. Furthermore, he will add his wailing (wanting to be carried – away from his booster seat) and screaming (although still far from a toddler’s scream that I heard in a mall before -- please...not my Caden please!!!). I know that Caden is not like some babies who loves and looking forward to his meal times, but those meal times never get this challenging and demanding.

It’s difficult for me to see him like that – as if he screams for me to get him out of that misery. On one hand I wanted to say, “It’s okay suster, let him go” but on the other hand, I know that he needs the vitamins from the food to help him grow to be a strong and healthy kid. *sigh*

If those meal times get very bad (like at dinner in this past 3 days), I usually told suster to stop and wait for half an hour or so. In the mean time, I carried him out from his booster (usually he would smile right away) and gave him a bath or rather a play-time with water. Caden loves water, he loves to splash the water and started to try to make bubbles using his mouth (his swim lessons teach him that but he is still too young to do it himself, so usually I will make bubble using my mouth while him watching me doing it).

Those bath times give Caden a little bit of relief and relaxation before he got back to his booster seat and try another shot of his dinner time. I tried everything. I gave him his favorite cereals where he was suppose to eat his porridge, give him fruits where he is suppose to eat his cereals! Haiyah…and everything doesn't seem to work well.

Suster said she saw Caden’s gum looks a bit white on his left bottom and thought that his tooth is coming out soon! I just hope that that’s true and hope that that's the reason for him being difficult at meal times. If so, "please come out soon, tooth!!! so that Caden would be back to “normal” in no time!" *finger crossed*

PS: Surprisingly, Caden seems to sleep better and longer! Nap time which was usually lasts about an hour, could stretch up to 3 hours straight (wake up one or two times just to breastfeed and go right back to sleep).

swimming today....

PS: Caden was put underwater for more than 5 times today! ^_^ He is a brave boy, indeed!

Happy Mother's Day

Oma and mommy

"Happy Mother's day to all mothers...especially to oma...!"

We all made this for oma in the morning of mother's day. It was fun looking at oma's surprised face(especially when she was in her pajamas!). She was asleep when ii Valerie and I arranged the pears in such a way too look like a 'cake'. Wanted to buy a cake for oma but this few days, she always complains that she gain so much weight, so we thought that making a 'cake' from the pears (oma's most favorite fruit) would be a better idea. ^_^

PS: I bought the roses and the pears a day before but it's been so hot in Singapore this past few days that the roses died within one day -- although I hide it in my room with the AC on, i guess it was still too hot for them! :(

someone was definately sleepy....^_^

"looks like someone was sleepy!!" ^_^

Just got this photo from my sister's wedding last January...everyone was praying while Caden yawned (a big one) -- maybe because of great-grandma's prayer? ^_^ I laughed hard looking at this!

PS: Caden actually had just woke up from his afternoon nap!

fighting over laptop!

We took this last weekend! So interesting for me to see them playing together on the weekend! Paul doesn't have much time for him on the weekdays but he surely make a whole lot of time for Caden on the weekends!

First time dining out

I had been wanting to bring Caden out for his lunch and see what will his reaction like -- will he eat better in the new place or worst? Meal times for Caden is not always good which makes me cautions to find the 'perfect' day for him so he won't hate his experience eating outside than the kitchen at home.

Today was the first day after oma came back from Jakarta and she asked us if we want to go out for lunch. Ii Valerie was also on holiday today (after finishing her prelims yesterday). I feel that Caden probably ready for it today... plus, ii could be the photographer on the first day of Caden's important day! hehe...

Arrived at Crystal Jade Kitchen in I-Setan, Shaw Center at around 11.30am. It wasn't packed (good thing!) and we got a table right away. I set up Caden's booster seat --yes, we brought our own highchair from home as I thought Caden would eat better on his usual seat in this totaly strange place for him -- then suster made the cereal and mixed it with my breastmilk.

All of us ready! Waiting for Caden to open up his mouth for his first bite! haha..but first few times, suster failed. Caden locked his mouth so tight that the spoon wasn't able to go in. But in the end, Caden actually eat better there than at home. He finished his meal without wailing (which sometimes he does it at home), without any mess around his face/head/body that we usually have to bath him right after that and lastly (to my surprise) he was able to eat outside with other people around. Yup! His meal times are always a private thing between suster and him or else he will just look at us (even at me) attentively but locked his mouth at the same time -- worst is when oma cheer him by clapping her hands and say "where is the big mouth?" over and over again!! So oma has been banned from Caden's meal time, FOREVER! ^_^

Overall, I am happy that Caden was eating so well today and of course I will bring him to another dining out again soon...

playing near the swimming pool...

We were suppose to swim together today (Anya, Vai, Noah and Caden) but Anya and Vai came too late at 6.15pm... Astrid and I decided not to bring the kids to swim today. In the end, we end up just playing on the pool side with Caden's and Noah's feet touching the water.... it's okay, we were having great time accompanying Anya and Vai swimming (Anya was really looking forward for this!). I hope we have this again next week and this time, all of us (including the moms) will go into the waterr.....!!! ^_^

Caden was tired and cried so much on the way up to our home, while Anya, Vai and Noah were still pretty much awake and rather hungry! Among the three, Caden will always be the sleeping 'handsome' !!! ^_^

on Noah's tricycle

Noah brought his tricycle along for Caden to use...yey!! Had a great time on the tricycle today! Thanks for bringing it today, Noah...bring it next time when you come here again, ok?

@ little gym today...

Another moment of me with my lovely teacher Amy....

Emily and I... isn't she cute and pretty???

Love you, Caden...

mother and son moments together....

Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour I would die for you
This is the miracle of love.

belated chinese new year

Took this pictures back in February and it took us another 3 weeks for the printing but was surprised when the photo of the 'two' Cadens were not in the angle that we want (above). So I brought it back for another printing and wait for another 3 weeks for it. *sigh..*

going underwater..

There are about 8 of us (4 babies and 4 moms) who are taking the swim lesson but all, except Caden and I, were sick...so we were having a private lesson today. It's nice to have private lesson once in a while because then I could ask a lot of question to the teacher and Caden would be the center of her attention. A lot of activities were carried out today as there were no waiting time to take turns between babies, and that made Caden seems to get tired more than usual days.

I asked teacher Wendy when could we put Caden into the water? and was surprised when the answer was, "We could try today at the end of the lesson so if he cry, you could just go on home." I was definately not sure if Caden would be ready for it but throughout the lesson, teacher Wendy said Caden showed sign of readiness to be put in the water -- such as, when we bring him up then down (as if we want to put him into the water), he closed his eyes and mouth and wasn't crying (and again closing his eyes) when a lot of water run down on his face.

So...towards the end of the lesson, teacher Wendy grabbed Caden from the back (so that Caden won't see her face but rather mine that he saw), sing a song with him, rock him side to side - up and down and count 'one...two...three' before putting him into the water -- she said, the counting will tell Caden that it was time for him to get ready. After a few false trial (bring him up then down but not submerged him yet), Caden then was underwater for a few seconds.

I thought I was going to be sacred but I was not -- *surprised.* Maybe because I trusted that teacher Wendy knew what she was doing and I knew that Caden could do it. This little guy really likes water -- he never cried when we bathed him (rather stopped his crying if we put him in the water) and did not cry too when he bring him to his first swim at 3 month of age.

Up he goes after a few seconds...and was not crying and acted like nothing has happened. Teacher Wendy gave Caden thumbs up! She thought he was going to cry but "Caden did so well in this young age", she said. We submerged him again for the last time before we end the lesson. Good job, Caden! Mommy so proud of you!

PS: I promised myself to bring Caden at least twice a week to swim outside his lesson time and continue what teacher Wendy has thought us.