into my mouth...

=> Caden is eating his "handphone" which I bought a month ago for him to "call" his daddy when he is away for work. Poor Mr. Handphone!!!

Eventhough we always take his fingers out again and again, since about a month old, Caden loves to put his finger/s into his mouth (that's why we introduced pacifier to him). Now, Caden begin to use his fingers and thumbs together in a mitten or clawlike grip or raking motion, therefore he manage to pick up many things and this past few weeks has been the craziest. Besides of finding how interesting that his hand able to grab things, I think the other reason for this "all I can it" is because he is teething, too. Caden would easily bring interesting objects to his mouth; which basically everything that is in his hands.

Now, Auntie Valerie called Caden, "the cannibal boy" cos' he too likes to eat people's hand, fingers, thighs, etc.

Caden is also interested in everything that is in my hand. No more carrying him in one hand and holding a handphone on the other, no more reading book or eating while carrying him because he will try to do everything he could to grab it (including bending his body downwards, so low that he could probably fall).

That's also means...we HAVE TO watch out...CHILDPROOFING!! Not that bad compared to when he will start crawling/walking but could not be taken easy too.

Very amusing how he changed since birth. He wasn't able to do anything except holding my finger/s but now he could grab bigger object, transfer objects from hand to hand, turn them from side to side and twist them upside down. That's a big leap from where he was before. Well done...!!!

crawling...

Caden has mastered sitting well enough by himself, he is now confident enough to go to the next step, that is crawling. Crawling start by learning how to balance on his hands and knees, then he'll figure out how to move forward and backward by pushing off with his knees. At the same time, he'll be strengthening the muscles that will soon enable him to walk. WALK? Yes right!!! Soon, he will be "everywhere"....

Until that time, I will continue to encourage him to crawl by playing 'reaching and grabbing' with him by placing toys and other desirable objects or myself! ^_^ just beyond Caden's reach.

Having fun together

Bring a friend day @ The Little Gym

Today is bring a friend day @ The Little Gym. Caden had asked Noah last week to join and he agreed to go. Here are some pictures from today's exciting day!!!

Caden's scariest experience

I told Suster (that's what we called our baby-sitter) to bring Caden in his new stroller to the park down at the lobby of our condo so that he'll be used to it therefore he won't be crying when we bring him out with this new stroller. Caden's previous stroller consisted of a car-seat and car-seat stroller but being at 7.5 kg now, I feel heavy and difficult to bring Caden out from the car on his 4kg car seat. Fortunately, Caden loves this stroller that I had bought before he was even born. I was afraid he would not feel as secure as he would because he could not see our faces as this stroller is facing to the opposite direction compare to the car seat stroller which was facing to me. But I don't think Caden miss my face at all, in fact, I think I am the one who misses his face as I stopped once in a while to see how and what he was doing.

At the end of the trip, I wanted to capture him in his new stroller but Caden's did not want to smile or look at the camera at all. Suster wanted to make him laugh so she jumped up and down (it failed), called out his name for hundreds of time (if failed) and lastly, out of desperation, she let go of her hair and tried to act like a ghost and see if that's going to help him smile.... unfortunately, she failed again!!! "Sorry Suster...I am just not in the most right now! Maybe tommorow we'll try again!"

first swim lesson experience...

Caden loves to swim and mommy thought a swim lesson for him might be a good experience for him. Finding an infant swim lesson is not easy in Singapore, maybe because the demand is not high. So mommy has been looking for one for quite sometime now by searching through the internet or try to find it on baby magazines. First, I was debating between private lesson or non-private one and I choose the non-private one as I thought it would be more interesting for Caden to see his friends too. Second, choosing which school to go to. There is one that is quite well known here but they use public pool as their teaching pool. When I was about to have a trial lesson with them, I found this swimming school that is located in Holland Road (not far from home) that has their own small swimming pool. It's owned and run by Australian/British permanent Singapore residents, called it 'Marsden Swim School'. I thought this could be the best swim school for Caden, so I called them up and set an appointment for a trial lesson today at 11am.

The pool was great...it was heated...thank GOD! and clean too... Both of us had a great experience. Caden was not crying nor smilling throughout the half hour lesson, maybe he was just surprised of the new surrounding and activities. In the mean time, I will continue to bring him to his once a week swim lesson and I am sure soon enough Caden will loves his swim lesson as much as he loves his gym class.

Fell from the bed!

I was in shocked when I heard "bang", loud noise just like something has fallen to the ground, and followed by very loud cries of Caden. I was trying to call my mom to let her know that someone was waiting for her down at the lobby of our condo then this incident happened.

Ok, let me start from the beginning. Caden and I were sleeping together on my bed for our afternoon nap. Then there was a call from the guard downstairs that someone came for 'Merry' -- that's my mom. My mom did not tell any of us, so my maid who picked the call did not know if she should let the guy in or let him wait outside and she asked me. I wanted to tell her to call my mom but for some reason I woke up slowly (making sure not to woke Caden up) and call mom by myself. I went into the next room to make the call. Unfortunately, mom did not picked it up right away even after a few calls. I tried to call Paul who was with her but he only picked up after the 3rd call. So then I asked Paul to asked mom, and mom answered to Paul then Paul told me what mom said....in short...I was too long leaving Caden, who is able to toss and turn by himself, alone in my bed. In the end, because of my carelessnes, he fell.

I never been so scared before... Caden must be in shocked and in pain, I thought! Caden cried so loud and I told him 'sorry' many times and hoped he will understand what I was saying. I held him closely into my arms and rocked him slowly and tried to calm down. I know that if I did not calm down, Caden would not calm down, too. I called my baby-sitter, asked her to see if there was any scratch or bump on his head but we could not find any. I told her that maybe it's too early to see if there was any of them.

Caden calmed down pretty quick and he started laughing again but I was still worried if Caden will remember this day forever or worst, something might happen to his head. So I waited for an hour and still could not find any bump. The baby-sitter told me maybe there wasn't suppose to be any bump or scratch at all. I said that was not possible because there was a small side table and a small chair next to where he was fallen, furthermore, I was sure that his hands were not strong enough to hold his head up-- therefore there should be at least one bump on his head. Then she said something that embarrassed me. She said, "What if GOD protected him? There was a pillow that fall with him, maybe that was what protect Caden from the bump. You will never know how GOD works." Oh my godness, I was the one who believe in Jesus Christ but she was the one who reminded me of HIM. I should have trusted Caden in HIS hands entirely and not rely on my own self thought.

It's been more than 8 hours from the incident and there is still not a single the bump or scratch on any part of his body. I thank GOD for his protection on Caden and thank you for reminding me of HIM through someone whom I never thought would.

Flu shot?

I have been wondering for sometime now if Caden need to get a flu shot. I hate the idea of him getting another shot, that's mean another painful experience for him. But I think it's worth the pain as I believe Caden will be more unconfortable if he get the real flu with all the running nose or troubled breathing. Furthermore, getting the shot gives the body a chance to build up immunity to, or protection from, the virus. According to a new recommendation issued this year by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC's Advisory Panel of Immunization Practices, even healthy babies aged 6 months to 2 years should be vaccinated. Previous guidelines only recommended the vaccine for young children at increased risk for flu-related complications, such as those with asthma or other lung conditions.

So today, I called his doctor and made an appointment next week for Caden to get the shot. I just hope this will prevent from flu virus in the coming year. *finger crossed*

Noah visit!!

Yey...Noah came!! We thought it was going to rain but the weather was on our side...so we could go out and swim together.

So when are we going to swim again, Noah? Call me, ok?

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Noah: "hm..this is new to me, Caden!"

Caden: "here...let me teach you how to play this...."

Saturday Lunch...

Grandpa was in Singapore for the weekend, so we decided to go out for lunch on Saturday to a Thai Restaurant in Raffles City. Caden was in such a good mood today. He did not ask for us to hold him up from his stroller as he was busy playing with his teethers and looking around at a new place with so many people moving around. Although we end up hold him for a while to take pictures, he seemed okay to be put back on the stroller. The trip was about 2 hours and at the end of the trip he was sleepy and fell asleep in the car. How I wish every trip is going to be this easy, I might bring him out more often. As for today, Good Job, Caden!!!

lost of appetite

Caden doesn't seem to have his appetite back after the immunization. When he lost his appetite on the day and a few days after the immunization, I thought it would just be temporary and believed that after his fever had gone, everything would back to normal. Today is the 6th day after but still there is no sign that he would be back with his good appetite to eat. *Sigh* I am still hoping that this would just be temporary *finger-crossed* because I believe having a child that has good appetite is always a good thing. We'll see and keep you updated with his latest development.

Caden at school

It is very intersting to see how Caden has grown over the past few months. When he started at The Little Gym at 4 months, he could only sit up for a moment or two with help but by now, he learn to sit momentarily without assistance, though I should stay nearby to provide support and surround him with pillows to cushion a possible fall. He also able to stand by holding unto the pole with minimal support from us.

Fresh after swimming and take a bath

@ Wisma Atria Fish Tank

Mommy bored at home!!! So we went to Orchard (Wisma Atria + Takashimaya). It was the best choice because mommy can go shopping and at the same time, Caden would be able to see the fishes.... ^_^

ready for it...

This time I am ready if Caden get a fever after this 3rd immunization at 6 months. Although I am still hoping for Caden not to get any fever at all, I had bought 'panadol for infants' last week at guardian. And yes...he get another fever but a mild one. This time lasted only for a day, unlike the prevous one which lasted 2 days -- probably because this time I gave Caden a dose of the medicine. Next time I will remember to give him the medicine to ease the pain if any fever should arise because the medicine help him to sleep better and less fussiness too.

bald...

I am worried that Caden won't have enough hair to cover his head when he is older. I have thin hair and it's hard for me to do anything with it and I hate it! But Paul told me not to worry too much because Caden is a boy -- hair is not important with boys, he said.

Although everyone has been telling me that it's alright for him not to have much hair now (that it will grow sooner of later), I decided to go to a children saloon to shave his hair for the 2nd time.

So this afternoon, I went to a children salon in Suntec City -- Paul and I don't dare shave him by ourselves. He was crying, I think the razor tickles him and he hated it. Although he cried quite a bit, we managed to shaved every part of his hair...yeyyy..!!! So here it is Caden with new hairstyle at his 1/2 a year birthday!

Immunization @ 6 months

Hiks hiks...I have to go through this again. Caden has to be shot twice on the thigh. But I keep telling myself that this is for his best, so with that in mind, I brought him to the doctor that has an appointment at 11am. 'Suster' (his baby-sitter) and I has been telling him to be strong and not to be scared of the needle since the day before.

But apprently the whole situation was not bad at all, he cries only for a few seconds (just when the needle was inside him) but after that he was fine. I think the doctor in Singapore was much more gentle compare to the one in US. I could still remember the first time Caden got his blood drawn and his first immunization in US, the nurse poke him with no consideration whatsoever and the needle was huge...just like the one they use it on adults. Caden cried so loud and we could not stop him for a few hours after...he cries on and off for about a day...seemed like he could remember how painful it was even a few hours after, well..maybe he could!!!

Update by his 6th months check up:
Weight: 7.5 kg or 16 pounds 5.3oz
Height: 68 cm or 26.77 inch

at photo studio

We went for Caden 2nd photo shoot at kiddie pictures in Forum Mall and the photographer running late so I took this pictures with my own camera....not badd... ^_^ I took his pictures with him sitting down to show that Caden is able sit by himself without falling right or left for a few seconds.

PS: and today is Caden's 6 months birthday!!!

First "HOT" outdoor outing...

Noah and mommy Noah invited us to go to Jurong Birdpark on Tues, March 27. At first I was reluctant to go as I am not sure if Caden is old enough to understand animals that he was going to visit. Plus, the thought of hot outdoor outing made me think again of going but Noah mommy really wanted us to go, anyway, I also wanted to see what was Caden's reaction going to be...was he going to show interestes in birds? will he understand at this young age? So then I decided to go.

The outing started at 10am. There were about 9 mommies and 10 children and lots of strollers that came along. It was extremly hot but fun at the same time. Caden did not show much interest on the animals and for me...the weather was so hott...I rarely ever go out outdoor; most of the time, we just went to a mall. So after 3 hours, Caden and I decided to go home earlier while the others were continue their journey throughout the park.

I don't know for sure when I will be able to bring Caden out for the whole entire day (anywhere, in cool or hot weather). For one, Caden doesn't like to eat when we are outside. I tried give him my breast and he keep looking around and not latching properly and when I tried give him formula in a bottle, he also doesn't want to suck. So it worries me, and if that happen, I just feel that I should go home and feed him as soon as possible. Huh! Maybe I am just a type of mother who worry to much!!! Noah mommy said, "don't worry!! everything will be just fine.."