aaah... our lovely kids...

So much happens since I last posted here and the kids have grown so much from last time.

Uaua just lost his 2 front lower teeth on 13th Aug (Right) and 14th Aug (Left). His permanent tooth has been impatient - his permanent molar and lower front inscisor was seen trying to erupt the gums a month ago when I brought him to visit his favorite dentist.

Tee Tee like his brother also got his first 2 front teeth last week 10th Aug (almost the same time like his bro.). I actually felt the teeth grinding my nipple when I force him to feed. He's been pretty preoccupied socializing with his siblings nowadays that I have to force him to feed or sometimes I bring him to hide from Uaua and Momoi or the TV.

Momoi has been amusing us lately with her choice of sentences and words. She can count up to 13 or 14 and say her ABC. Yesterday she was asking me to spell the word "FIFFY" on her pillow and to my surprise she corrected me when I say 'F' on the letter 'Y'(I wasn't even looking at which letter she pointed). She showed her two finger when she count 2 pears to Papa yesterday. However her bed manners are something she still need to improve. Every night she will cry once or twice for no reason (or maybe there is a reason that we are yet to understand).

Huh... life as a mother of 3 is really busy for me. If I can divide 24 hours daily - my normal operating time will be 8am-6pm (work and work and think and think some more... I'm paid to think) 6pm-8am (cooking, cleaning, teacher, entertainer, milk production machine, kids-playmate). No wonder I feel there is no tomorrow... Tomorrow and today is the same.

IKEA oh IKEA...

I just love IKEA furniture. I went there few years back with some Sarawakian friends and we almost wanted to buy everything in the store but didn't eventually. If we did, we would be paying hefty fees for the extra baggage.

While I'm looking for chest of drawers for our precious bundle of joy and I found one that I like from the IKEA website. It's just too bad that I cannot do online shopping and have them delivered here.

In the meantime I just want to keep this link just in case I got someone who can help me buy my dream IKEA furniture.

Or I have a choice to get my dream chest of drawers from a local shop here, either ask them to buy from IKEA or custom made one for me or just find one that looks similar. Up to this point I still haven't decided what to do.

Whatever it is, I need a furniture that serve the following purpose:-
1. Changing table (convertible to shelves - grow with your child)
2. Drawers to keep baby clothes
3. Shelves to keep baby toys and books, etc.

Perhaps I will take some time out this weekend to shop around first. Hopefully I'll see something that I like.

Joshua's Art Work

Here' a drawing Joshua made on Tuesday

Title: Rainbow

There's a little monkey on the banana tree but the monkey is so naughty that Joshua have to colour him off.
Pretty accurate representation of the actual colour... except for the Indigo and Blue "terbalik"...

Here's a drawing Joshua made on Wednesday
Title: Papa, Mama & Me at the beach

(I ask him - where's Moira? This is when Moira not born yet...)

The water in blue, sand in brown, staircase, Papa, Me and Mama, stalls and cars (he says - kereta buruk...hehe)

And here is another masterpiece Uaua made for Aunty J and Ethan.

Intro to Cloth Diaper a.k.a CD

Well my kids finally got the feel of CD after the mama caught the CD madness from Aunty J :-D

Me, hubby and the kids together with Aunty J went for a short shopping/sampling adventure at mia bambina 2 weeks ago. Initially, I wanted to get CD for Joshua. Reason - although he is potty trained during day time but he refuse to wake up at night to empty his bladder. So I thought CD might be the solution for him. However, as soon as we show him the CD he refuses to wear until I brought him to the wash-room to try. Shy... I guess. He has worn his CD twice and seems to like it. Yesterday, when I came home empty handed from shopping for disposable diapers (the shop run-out of stock for XXL size), he asked me to buy more diapers from Aunty J's friend. So I may go shopping for CDs again... haha.

While at mia bambina, I also ended-up getting something for little Momoi - shocking-pink/blue CD. At first I thought it was a bad idea, as Momoi fought really hard when we try to put her on CD - maybe she's not used to other people putting on her. After a while, we manage to get good fitting on her and make her model on the pink CD. Momoi was very clever to mark her territory on the spot - maybe it's her way of saying I like this buy this for me, please. Actually, I was eyeing for something unisex colour so that I can use for our future baby(ies). Nonetheless, I was happy with the CD I got for Moira as it has the criteria I've been looking for - using snaps instead of velcro and also has good colour/design range. Unfortunately, it's not one size fits all.

Finally, only today I manage to put Momoi on her CD after keeping it in the drawer for 2 weeks. She wore from 4 pm to 8 pm and still not thoroughly wet. I think she likes it too because when I take it off from her and put the disposable back she clenched her legs together. My little Moira really know what she likes...

Me in my Cute Diaper...

This Brand or That Brand?

In the previous post, I was still balancing the pros and cons of the new formula Moira has been taking. Now that it's over 2 weeks she's taking the new formula and seems fine with the new formula, I'll most probably let her continue with the formula - Mamil step 2 (for 6 to 12 months) for another week before changing to Mamil step 3 (for 1 to 3 years).

The reason why we let her try the step 2 instead of step 3 because previously she is used to Similac step 1 which taste less sweeter and a bit plain. Whereas step 3, the taste is richer and much sweeter so to make the trasition smooth we let her try step 2 first. If she's fine with the taste and doing OK then only we try to change again to step 3 as recommended by the paediatrician.

Before this she has few reactions during her trial period with Mamil step 2:-

1. Very soft (like toothpaste consistency) and sometimes watery stool
- I thought maybe she's allergic to the milk or maybe it's diarrhea but the milk says the Oligosaccharide content can cause softer stool but didn't expect it to be like a newborn baby stool. Anyway, at least I don't have to worry about her having constipation like she used to with Similac.

2. Very often bowel movement
- she poo sometimes 3-5 in a day which is very unusual of her and more work for me and hubby.

3. Very bad rash on her bottom and private area
- It was really bad and very red and raw. I even thought rash almost become blister. I had to wash her private area with Lactacyd and applied the anti-fungal cream (twice daily). Fortunately, within 2-3 days her skin looks like normal again... whew.

After examining the above reactions and advice from the paediatrician, we finally conclude that reaction 1 & 2 maybe caused by the milk but reaction no 3 is caused by thrush / fungal infection due to over-use of antibiotic in the previous week to cure her bacterial infection. Also, since yesterday and today she poo-ed only 2 times a day and the stool is getting better in consistency, therefore reaction 1 & 2 is no longer a worry already.

So I finally decided to continue to give her Mamil step 2 for another week and then will switch over to Mamil - step 3 next week. Hopefully now that she's used to the taste, I shall have no problem during the changeover period next week.

Playtime with Ethan's toy

Last Sunday, 3 of us (Uaua, Momoi & Me) went to Aunty J's house (upstairs) for a short visit. The kids love to go out and it doesn't matter if it's only 10 meters away from home as long as they are outside the main door their expression will suddenly change from gloomy to happy mood. I guess everyone needs fresh air once in a while.

Anyway, Momoi is the happiest as she gets to "play" with Ethan's toy (or should I say she gets to "munch"...). Poor Moira, I don't buy many toys for her for the following reasons:
1. She inherits her brother's basket full of toys - Buying more toys means more junks in the house.
2. Most of the toys in market nowadays are "Made in China" which add to the no-no list due to lead content on the toys. Many of Uaua's toy were already packed ready to be thrown away due to this reason and mind you most of these toys are the expensive & branded ones, i.e. Fisher Price, etc (I had minor heartache when I think of all the money spent on them... but better safe than sorry).
3. Mama & Papa a bit stingy in buying toys (have to admit this one...). For Uaua we made a resolution only to buy him toys for his birthday and Christmas only. So I guess the same goes with Moira (have to be fair with both children).

It's very hard not to buy toys actually especially when many of the toys nowadays are innovative and so called "built for the development" of your child. I have to admit I like window shopping for toys but I always remind myself the 3 reasons above not to buy them.

Going back to the topic - I concluded that Moira had a fun time playing with Ethan's toys as she has limited choice of toys at home. Maybe a little deprivation will make them appreciate more...

Little Moira riding on Ethan's Dragon

"Jangan marah ah Ethan... pinjam sikijap ko punya toy"
(Pls don't get mad Ethan... I borrow your toy for a while)

Only the dragon seems interested to get his photo taken...