with mommy at the balcony...

Today after Caden woke up from his afternoon nap, and we asked suster to take this pictures for us.

PS: Caden was wearing a 6-8 years cap that I bought from Mothercare. It was on sale and I thought he can wear it now, it's just won't look tight. hehe...

the Tyra Banks pose...

This is what ii valerie called "the Tyra Banks pose"

Well, she was the photographer and I was amazed that she was able to call out Caden to look at the back of his jumperoo and actually stopped for a few second of the picture... Good Job, ii!!!

Jumperoo

Caden start to understand the function of each body part, for example when I place his newly found feet on the floor, he first curl his toes and stroke the carpet or the floor, but soon he'll discover he can use his feet and legs to practice "walking" or just to bounce up and down. Which mean: "Watch out!" Soon he will be crawling and standing.

In preparation to that, Daddy had bought Caden this Jumperoo from Fisher Price at the "Baby Fair" that was located in Takashimaya. I told Paul that this is Caden's present for his 6 months birthday (read: so there will be more presents in months to come) hehehe.... Caden is a very active boy, so with this jumperoo, Caden will be able to play safe jumping in the house while giving us a few minutes break...just a few minutes.. cos' soon he will be bored and want us to play other things with him.

Back to Singapore

Daddy wants us to go back to Singapore today (if possible) as he would be able to play with Caden before returning to work the next day. He misses Caden a lot as the last time that he saw him was almost a week ago. Suster approval letter came 2 days ago (at lasttt!!). The timing was great as oma (Caden's great-grandma) went back home to Jakarta from Singapore the day after, therefore she could bring back the approval letter which the immigration as to sign at time of suster's arrival in Singapore.

I want Paul to be able to play with Caden too, so I agree to go back home this morning --with such a short notice. Short notice is okay if I am travelling alone -- but now, with Caden is a whole different story. He has so much stuff; his toys, his bottles, breastpump, milk, etc etc. Furthermore, I was still have to unpacked the stuff that we brought back from US, so many boxes (more than ten of them), and stacked it nicely in the cupboard. And not to mention, the people who wanted to meet with the 'star' before returning to Singapore. I was so tired and knew that there are still lots of stuff to packed or unpacked but could not disagree with the lunch offer from Ima Nanny.

This morning was bad...slept at around 1 am (came back from Santi' enggagement party at around 10pm and continued unpacking/packing) and woke up at around 4...making sure that everything was in the luggages. Went out from the house at 6.30am with a headache as I did not have enough sleep. Arrived at the airport at 7. 15 am and SHOCKED! It was packed! SUPER PACKED! We have to queue for everything, I wasn't expecting it! Everything take so long, plus with me carrying 'heavy' Caden in the baby bjorn, feeling sleepy and headache just add everything up. Then I realized that tommorow is the first day of school for public school students after a week holiday. I seriously vowed to myself to take note of school holidays and not going anywhere between the school holidays.

In the plane, Caden was not behaving really well. He screamed when I put his seat belt on and wanted us to carry him continuosly. I wanted to sit because in the plane, everyone is sitting, so when you are the only one who was standing, every eyes will look but well, what can I do? Caden screamed when I sat down! I think he is getting naughtier!

Baby fair...

Astrid and I went out together to see the somewhat called "biggest baby fair this year" in Suntec City Convention Hall. I thought it would be a great event for me to see lots of baby stuff or get more information about infant schools in Singapore. Looking forward for this a lot but quite dissapointed when I actually saw it.

They have almost nothing good for Caden. The toys are either the same price or cheap but doesn't look nice. In the end I bought a hat (which I regret it) and bought an infant pillow that has a whole in the middle for Caden's round shape head. This pillow turn out to be pretty good and is $2 cheaper than the regular price *dughh???*. And that's all I get! I thought I will get lots of stuff and lots of info about anything...but well!!

Today I think the first time Caden went out for almost 4 hours straight. He even slept on my chest in the baby bjorn...only for half an hour though but it was not bad considering him never slept if it's not in his room! I was thinking of going back home when he cried on his car seat stroller but quickly fell asleep when I carried him. As usual, he did not ask for milk at all. This is what that prevent me from going out too often...Caden doesn't seem hungry when we took him out. I am just afraid that is not healthy for him. But well, I think it's okay to do it once in a while.

Together

I am always reluctant to take picture with Caden because I feel so huge and fat. But if I don't take any pictures with him now, I will have no pictures with 'small' Caden and I know that I will regret it later. So today I told myself to forget about how fat I am and try to feel confident to take pictures with Caden (although reminding myself not to take close-up photo). Yes I think I should do this more often!

I am not sure how can auntie Valerie took this pictures below..it's so cute.... They were spending time together and auntie Valerie took his picture and the next thing I know, I download the pictures and it was all nicee... "Thanks ii for the nice pictures of me..."

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year!!!

at paragon

Went out shopping with oma today. Caden was sitting quietly in his car seat and looking at the people passed by and the stores in Paragon. Mom said, "I should have brought Caden out more often so that he won't act like a 'kampong' boy!" But I don't believe it. By keeping him at home he will have the maximum rest that he need and avoid awful diseases from visitors at the mall.

Happy Valentines day!!

bumbo chair

Auntie Valerie called this chair as "Caden's Throne" and made a small crown for Prince Caden to wear whenever he sit on it

This past few days, Caden doesn't really like it when we put him on his back or tummy, he wants to be sitted on our lap. Then I saw this bumbo chair at Takashimaya and another time at a child-care center that I mistakenly thought a school for infants. When I asked the owner of the child-care center about this bumbo chair, she said the it is really good for babies who just started to learn how to sit; the chair is also safe and confortable for them.....they could not stand up from it as the rubber suck their bottom to the chair when placed on flat surface.

So this afternoon I went to Takashimaya and bought this chair for Caden. I just hope that Caden will like his first chair to play with.

PS: His left eye on the photo is a bit shiny, that's because we put vaseline on it as Caden scratch it with his own nails. It was pretty deep!! Believe it or not vaseline really helps to heal it faster.

Noah met Caden for the 1st time

Noah and mommy came to visit Caden for the 1st time. Caden and Noah seems to get acquainted very fast (they are holding hands in no time). I let Caden rub Noah head which has full of hair a few times...hoping that Caden will have hair similar like Noah soon. ^_^

Noah mommy and I had a great time, too. It's been a while since we met. We chat a lot but this time, mostly about our babies...hehe...how time has changed...we knew each other since we were Secondary School and never thought of getting married, but now, each of us have a son of our own.

Come by again Noah! Next time, bring your float and swim suit too...so we can go swimming together.

PS: I looked so huge...I still had 10kg with me...yup! TEN KILO!!!

Going to school!!

I want to enroll Caden in a school for him to have fun and meet his other little friends. I thought it could be an interesting experience for him as he doesn't have any small friends in the family (he is the first child, first grandchild from both sides, and first great-grandchild, too). Most of the school in Singapore start at 6 months but I found this school called 'The Little Gym' that allowed infants as young as 4 months old in their 'bugs' class (4-10 months of age). So I called last week to have a trial session.

The class was great. It was a relatively small class with only about 6 children and their mommies. Teacher Amy was great too; she is a young, energetic person who teaches us (parents) lots of tricks to increase the child ability to build a strong bodies as well as high self-esteem using songs, or props in the gym.

1st time in the class Caden looked very happy. He smiled and follow the class quietly and attentively. So I conclude that he like the class..that means...we will be coming here every Wednesday at 9.10am. Yey...!!!

swim @ ardmore

Today is the first time Caden swim at ardmore. The swimming pool was great but unfortunately they don't have heated pool at all; they have 4 swimming pool -- 1 big and 3 small ones but none is heated. Luckily Caden can tolarate the cool water ... people said he likes water therefore whanever there is water (whether is cold or warm), it's okay with him.

Caden loves the small pool because with the 'car float' that I bought him, his feet are just right touching the bottom pool floor so he could sort of walk in it. He was so enthusiastic 'driving the car' forward, backward, right and left.

Today is Saturday, daddy is at home so daddy took Caden swim and had a great time. Paul has been away every Sunday night to Friday night so he doesn't get enough time to see Caden and wherever Paul is in Singapore, he always make use of Caden's wake up times to play together. I guess, Paul is just afraid that Caden won't recoqnize him as his daddy if he did not make the time. Whatever it is, it's good to have a fatherly bonding for Caden and Paul and I will definately encourage this father-son time.

Fever for 2 dayss...

Caden had a slight fever after his 4 months immunizations. He was fussy and had trouble sleeping. Today is the 3rd day after his immunizations. His body is not as hot as yesterday but at the same time he has not recover fully yet. For the past 2 days, he has been crying for mommy to hold him a lot and refused to be hold or put to sleep by his baby-sitter, so I have been doing nothing much other than spent my time with Caden -- of course I am alright with that... When Caden need me, I will always be there!!!

Update by his 4 months check up:
Weight: 7.3 kg or 16 pounds and 0.6 oz
Height: 66 cm or 26 inch

Lunch w/ Ima Nanny

Tommorow Caden and mommy will be going back to Singapore to meet daddy!!! So Ima Nanny invited us for lunch @ Keyaki, Shangrilla Hotel. She wanted to see Caden before we go. Since we arrived at the restaurant Caden was a bit cranky, he wanted us to hold him and hungry was probably another reason but when I gave him my breast, he did not want to suck on it. So then I let him walked around with the baby-sitter. At almost 2 pm, it's time for Ima Nanny to get back to the office to work so that she could buy Caden moreee toyssss...... ^_^ Thanks for the food, Ima...it was goodd!!! I could taste the salmon sushi in mommy's breast-milk!!!

to puncak...

@ Amen Restaurant, Puncak

Caden and I went to puncak last weekend. We drove from Jakarta on Friday, January 12 and went back home on Sunday, January 14. At first I was reluctant to go because it was quite a long drive to yeye's (Paul's aunt) house in Puncak -- about 2 hours -- and I was afraid Caden won't be comfortable and would cry a lot in the car and at the new bedroom there. But Paul's parents and yeye's family really wanted Caden to come along, so then we went.

The journey was not bad. Caden wasn't cry at all, he sat on his car seat and looked at the outside scenery and then fell a sleep. He was cranky at times when he is hungry but he wasn't eat that much anyway in the car. I was afraid he would get dizzy and throw-up as the winding road was pretty bad (I myself felt a bit dizzy). I was also afraid he won't sleep well in the new bedroom but it turn out not bad at all. He was a little fuzzy, of course but I was still able to manage it.

We went to factory outlet there and bought a lot of clothes for Caden. ^)^

more milk?

I have been feeling quite happy lately. It seems like I am producing much more milk than before, sometimes it even leak. Yey!!! I am so happy and proud that my decision of pumping my breasts even when they are not producing any milk really helps.

Caden has been feeding straight from my breast with only a little supplement from the formula for the past month and when the formla is given, that is only when I am gone past his feeding time -- so I tried as much as possible to come back home on time at his feeding time.

Paul, ai Ayun and Mom has not been supporting on the breastfeeding idea. Paul supports me on the breastfeeding idea so that Caden will have better health and future but he wants me to loose weight asap. How can I do that when I always feel hungry after breastfeeding? Also, you are not suppose to go on diet when you are breastfeeding as you may not giving your child enough vitamins and minerals.

As for ai, she said my milk production is very little and would not be enough to feed Caden (she predicted that my supply will dry up by Caden 3 months old). She used to insist that Caden would need to be given formula after every breastfeeding. And mom, she said breastfeeding will make my breast look ugly and plus I could not go on diet soon when I am still breastfeeding.

*sigh*

I know I look so very ugly now – very fat. But I think giving breast milk for Caden is the best option for his future. I will loose weight (I promised) but wait until I had stop breastfeeding. I guess some people are not that patient when it comes to your appearance.

But so far, I will stick into my decision. I am determined to breastfeed Caden for at least 1 year – I don’t care what other people say. Now, the most important thing is what is best for Caden.

popo birthday...

Happy Birthday, Popo

January 2, 2007

Yey...it's popo (word for grandma) birthday. Six of us (Paul's parents, Paul, me, Caden and ai) went to Fajar Restaurant -- the one closer to Pondok Indah --- to have dinner. The food was okay, although the chicken rice -- just the rice tasted unusual, but the restaurant itself looked quite dirty...plus they allow people to smoke inside the restaurant. ihhh...I hate the smell of it and more importantly I did not want Caden to smell that toxic smell that could cause lung/brain damage!!! I was not enjoying my time at the dinner.. I feel I just want to finish the food as fast as possible and get out of here. Luckily it was just a small dinner, so there was not any time wasted on chatting with each other.