Ryan baby uttered his first laugh yesterday!! Woo~! So cute!! My little darling!!
Sorry, I know I sound like a teenage girl, but... Ryan baby's first laugh!!
Hahaha
He has been smiling everyday since sometime after the first month. But this was his first real laugh when his daddy was playing with him.
Siggghhhh... I love my little darling.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Stuff I've been reading...
These are what I have been reading during the my very limited free times.
BOOKS:
BOOKS:
Bright from the Start: The Simple, Science-Backed Way to Nurture Your Child's developing Mind from Birth to Age 3
http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Start-Science-Backed-Developing-Mindfrom/dp/159240362X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310048302&sr=8-1
I'm only about 1/3 through the book, but so far it has been very informative and useful. It teaches me ways of engaging and "playing" with baby in order to nurture his mind. What I like most about it is that the author does not just tell you what you should do, she really explains the science behind it. I feel more informed and assured when I know why I am doing what I am doing.
The Babysense Secret
http://www.amazon.com/Babysense-Secret-Megan-Faure/dp/0756671590/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310048573&sr=1-2
I've completed the book up to baby's age. I find this book alright. Some of the suggestions for calming baby when he is crying has been quite useful. But the suggestions for creating a daytime schedule has been a big failure. I don't think it is fault of the book/author though. I think all babies are just different and what might work on one baby might not work on the other. My little darling probably just refuses to be on a schedule.
BLOGS:
Parenting Joy
http://www.parentingjoy.com/
This is a very useful blog, especially for new parents. She has written a lot of very useful and motivating posts on breastfeeding, general parenting, etc, which I can really relate to. I do admit that the constant references to Christianity is a little annoying to me (I'm a freethinker.), but it is her blog and her belief, so... shut up me!
Confusing times, difficult decisions...
My 4 months maternity leave is coming to an end very soon. It's hard to believe that 4 months has just flown by like that. On one hand I am a little relieved to be able to have a real life away from home and baby. But on the other hand, I am already getting mild separation anxiety.
We have discussed and sort of settled on an arrangement for baby when I get back to work. But to be totally honest, I am really not sure that it will work. I'm planning on working half day in the office, and half day from home. The lucky thing is that I have an understanding boss who has agreed to try out this arrangement to see if it will work. I really did believe that it will work when I suggested this to my boss. However, that was when baby was still sleeping most of the time. Now that he is older, he is constantly curious about his surroundings, easily bored, and most importantly, refuses to take daytime naps longer than 15 mins. That will be a problem when I need to work from home.
But if this arrangement does not work out, what then?
Can we afford for me to be a Stay At Home Mum (SAHM) and lose my income? Or be a Part-Time SAHM and lose half my income? Will my company even consider having me stay on as a part-time staff? If not, any other part-time job will probably mean losing more than half of my current (very comfortable) salary.
I am also thinking of ways that I can earn money from home so that I can at least have a little bit of income for myself.
One of the main worries I have about being a SAHM is that I will have to entirely change my spending habits when my hubby is the only one bringing in income to the family. I will not be able to spend money anyway I please because the money I will be spending will not be mine, it's the family's money. While I believe that I am not a terrible spendthrift, it will still be a very difficult change in mindset for me. (Do I really need to buy this bag? Sure it is only $40 and beautiful, but do I really NEED it? $40 can buy a lot of diapers. Plus it's not fair to hubby if I spend it on myself on a want and not a need. I will feel like I should only buy a new bag when my current ones are torn and tattered.) I will no longer be able to say "This bag is only $40 and I love it. Besides, it is my own hard-earned money and I will spend it any way I please.".
Even if money is not an issue, am I mentally ready to be a SAHM? Will I go nuts from the lack of contact with the outside world?
Of course, being a SAHM does not mean that I have to completely cut myself off from my friends. However, because I am breastfeeding, I cannot afford to be away from baby for more than 4 hours straight. Even though someone else can feed baby with my EBM (Expressed Breast Milk), my boobs will explode if I go more than 4 hours without pumping them. So, having to lug my breast pump around and making sure that wherever I go has a nursing room for me to pump puts a serious damper on the festivities. Whenever I think of these constaints, I lose my good mood.
And of course, the most important question of all : why do I want to be a SAHM?
Is it so that I can escape from corporate work? Yes, partly (a very small part). Is it because I think it will be easier than working from home (at my current job) and taking care of baby at the same time? Yes, partly too.
But most importantly, I do not want to be away from baby during the most important period of his development. I want to be as involved as possible with every aspect of my little darling. I want to be there when he laughs, cries (err most of the time anyway), sleeps, and plays. I want to be present at every developmental milestone. I want to be involved in his character development. I want our bond to be the closest it can be.
So is this worth the sacrifice in loss of income? Of course it is. But am I really ready for it?
Sigh. So, it's a lot to think about, and not much time to think about it. Help!
We have discussed and sort of settled on an arrangement for baby when I get back to work. But to be totally honest, I am really not sure that it will work. I'm planning on working half day in the office, and half day from home. The lucky thing is that I have an understanding boss who has agreed to try out this arrangement to see if it will work. I really did believe that it will work when I suggested this to my boss. However, that was when baby was still sleeping most of the time. Now that he is older, he is constantly curious about his surroundings, easily bored, and most importantly, refuses to take daytime naps longer than 15 mins. That will be a problem when I need to work from home.
But if this arrangement does not work out, what then?
Can we afford for me to be a Stay At Home Mum (SAHM) and lose my income? Or be a Part-Time SAHM and lose half my income? Will my company even consider having me stay on as a part-time staff? If not, any other part-time job will probably mean losing more than half of my current (very comfortable) salary.
I am also thinking of ways that I can earn money from home so that I can at least have a little bit of income for myself.
One of the main worries I have about being a SAHM is that I will have to entirely change my spending habits when my hubby is the only one bringing in income to the family. I will not be able to spend money anyway I please because the money I will be spending will not be mine, it's the family's money. While I believe that I am not a terrible spendthrift, it will still be a very difficult change in mindset for me. (Do I really need to buy this bag? Sure it is only $40 and beautiful, but do I really NEED it? $40 can buy a lot of diapers. Plus it's not fair to hubby if I spend it on myself on a want and not a need. I will feel like I should only buy a new bag when my current ones are torn and tattered.) I will no longer be able to say "This bag is only $40 and I love it. Besides, it is my own hard-earned money and I will spend it any way I please.".
Even if money is not an issue, am I mentally ready to be a SAHM? Will I go nuts from the lack of contact with the outside world?
Of course, being a SAHM does not mean that I have to completely cut myself off from my friends. However, because I am breastfeeding, I cannot afford to be away from baby for more than 4 hours straight. Even though someone else can feed baby with my EBM (Expressed Breast Milk), my boobs will explode if I go more than 4 hours without pumping them. So, having to lug my breast pump around and making sure that wherever I go has a nursing room for me to pump puts a serious damper on the festivities. Whenever I think of these constaints, I lose my good mood.
And of course, the most important question of all : why do I want to be a SAHM?
Is it so that I can escape from corporate work? Yes, partly (a very small part). Is it because I think it will be easier than working from home (at my current job) and taking care of baby at the same time? Yes, partly too.
But most importantly, I do not want to be away from baby during the most important period of his development. I want to be as involved as possible with every aspect of my little darling. I want to be there when he laughs, cries (err most of the time anyway), sleeps, and plays. I want to be present at every developmental milestone. I want to be involved in his character development. I want our bond to be the closest it can be.
So is this worth the sacrifice in loss of income? Of course it is. But am I really ready for it?
Sigh. So, it's a lot to think about, and not much time to think about it. Help!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Happy 2nd Month Ryan Baby!
It's amazing how time flies! Tomorrow will be Ryan baby's 2nd month birthday, and it still feels like we came home from the hospital just last week. I imagine I'll be saying the same thing 18 years later on his 18th birthday. Haha!
Since Auntie has left, there has been many ups and downs in our life together. There had been days when I feel terrible ( as anyone can see from my previous posts). He could be grumpy the whole day struggling at the breast, crying incessently, etc. Then there are days when he only cries when he needs something and is easily pacified.
Since this week he has been a lot more aware of his surroundings and requires a lot more attention. He's constantly looking around, and is most fasinated when I carry him on a "walking tour" of our home.
He has also been coming up with a lot more new sounds other than the crying and screaming he used to make. There are the "ehs" ("I'm lonely! I need company and entertainment!"), the "ah goos" "coos" "hiiiii" "haaa looooo" "ahhhhh haaa" "way!"("I'm telling you something very important in an extremely cute way so you'd better listen up!").
Amazingly, I have not detected any "change my diaper it is extremly wet/dirty" cries/noises as he seems totally unperturbed by any change in condition of his diaper. He could be sitting in a diaper that is totally soaked to the brim and covered in baby poo, and still be smiling and cooing away. It's only when I smell the distinctive "buttery popcorn" odour that I realise. His father is very proud - "He's a MAN.".
He loves looking at anything that is moving and changing. The musical mobile that we bought for him used to be able to entertain him for up to an hour. But now he's gotten bored with it. I've discovered though that he LOVES looking at people's faces and hair. I've developed a game of "shampoo ad" with him - he loves looking at me flinging my hair about like a model in a shampoo ad (HAHA!).
I really love spending time with my little darling. I love his toothless smiles, his coos and ahs and hiiis. I love bath time, and I even love diaper time. Even though it can be very tiring at times, I'm generally really enjoying motherhood right now.
Since Auntie has left, there has been many ups and downs in our life together. There had been days when I feel terrible ( as anyone can see from my previous posts). He could be grumpy the whole day struggling at the breast, crying incessently, etc. Then there are days when he only cries when he needs something and is easily pacified.
Since this week he has been a lot more aware of his surroundings and requires a lot more attention. He's constantly looking around, and is most fasinated when I carry him on a "walking tour" of our home.
He has also been coming up with a lot more new sounds other than the crying and screaming he used to make. There are the "ehs" ("I'm lonely! I need company and entertainment!"), the "ah goos" "coos" "hiiiii" "haaa looooo" "ahhhhh haaa" "way!"("I'm telling you something very important in an extremely cute way so you'd better listen up!").
Amazingly, I have not detected any "change my diaper it is extremly wet/dirty" cries/noises as he seems totally unperturbed by any change in condition of his diaper. He could be sitting in a diaper that is totally soaked to the brim and covered in baby poo, and still be smiling and cooing away. It's only when I smell the distinctive "buttery popcorn" odour that I realise. His father is very proud - "He's a MAN.".
He loves looking at anything that is moving and changing. The musical mobile that we bought for him used to be able to entertain him for up to an hour. But now he's gotten bored with it. I've discovered though that he LOVES looking at people's faces and hair. I've developed a game of "shampoo ad" with him - he loves looking at me flinging my hair about like a model in a shampoo ad (HAHA!).
I really love spending time with my little darling. I love his toothless smiles, his coos and ahs and hiiis. I love bath time, and I even love diaper time. Even though it can be very tiring at times, I'm generally really enjoying motherhood right now.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
A new beginning...
Today almost feels like it's the first day home with baby from the hospital. Finally, it's the nanny's last day, and we'll have to handle everything ourselves.
While it's a very scary situation, I'm very very happy to be in control of my home life again. I have spent the afternoon (in between feedings and changings) re-organising the feeding Most of all, I'm very glad that baby and I can finally have a chance to truly bond with each other. Creating routines of our own, getting used to each other's voices and scent again.
Yay!
While it's a very scary situation, I'm very very happy to be in control of my home life again. I have spent the afternoon (in between feedings and changings) re-organising the feeding Most of all, I'm very glad that baby and I can finally have a chance to truly bond with each other. Creating routines of our own, getting used to each other's voices and scent again.
Yay!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Who am I kidding...
Really, whO am I trying to kid? All those happy smiley photos of me holding Baby. I'm happy with him but he sure aint happy with me.
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