Missy, 4 months to 2yo

Terrible two's? It's apparent in her even now! Gosh, she really tests our patience and at times, I am amazed that I can be so patient. Maybe only towards Missy. Bought a book by Nicky & Sila Lee, The Persnting Book. Truly need to learn from other Godly parents since I tried not to copy too much from my or hubby's upbringing. I was brought up in a typical traditional Chinese family, where hugs and assurance are lacking (no question about my parents' love for us).. But we want to know how to raise up Godly children through other families. Both hubby and I are 1st generation Christian, we do not want Missy to have 'borrowed' faith when she grows up later. We learnt best from other people's experiences right? Hmm.. How did I sway away so much from the topic? I don't know.. Oh well. At this age, she has shown so much developments. And finally, Missy calls me 'mommy'!! Wheee, the moment I have been waiting for. So sweet to my ears. But that is a different story when she is so clingy. At times, I feel we are like koala and tree, Missy the koala and I am the tree. Imagine koala hugging the tree. That's how I felt when she's in her mood. Ooh, and she can self-feed too. I asked the centre if they allow her to feed on her own and they do monitor. I was told that her first time was done well too by herself. Hehe, I am not ready to clean up after her. So there isn't much chances for her to eat on her own at home. It's only when she refused to eat her lunch and dinner (maybe my cooking is really yucky ;p) or when we eat out and I need to distract her so that we can eat in peace. I was told that her gross motor is developing weel though I feel I have not done enough for her to explore. With that, I can only thank God for watching over Missy. Her vocabulary has increased too besides 'mommy'. Moon, stars, peekaboo, door, guitar (heard it for the first time today!), car, house... Can recognize and count from one to ten (so, so proud of her)... And many others that my dory fish memory is failing me. Her first few mandarin words are 'wo bu yao' (I don't want).. Of all words/semtnces she learnt *roll eyes* Nonetheless, am thankful that Missy is growing well :)

Thank God!

I think this blog will vanish into thin air soon if I don't log in and just pen up a few updates. Has been super,  duper busy for the past 3 weeks with CNY, MiL got hospitalized, sick big and small baby, searching for a babycenter. Sigh!

Thank God all is over now!

Feb 8, another significant day for lil' Missy. Her first day at the nursery or do you call it a baby center? Whatever it is called, we dumped dropped her there and went to work. We truly count our blessings when we finally realized that there are not many centres who take in 18mo. Most will take in 3yo onwards. When we thought that we had no choice but to end up with to the one and only we found... Ta-da! We found this one! In case you are wondering, babysitter is not my choice as I know the best babysitter in the world personally, so afraid that I will have too high expectation and do not like to many adjustment for lil' missy since I planned to start her off with nursery when she hits 2yo. We almost pleaded the teacher to accept our lil' missy. She just got a newbie baby, and wants him to familiarise first before another one. Lil' missy was at her usual self, nosey and active, walk around and has given the teacher the impression that she is not clingy and manageable. Thank God! Thoiugh I have to take EL on the 2nd day to care for my sick lil' missy. Those tummy flu, gosh, so strong and harmful. Lil' missy does not have much fats in her, not much left over her tiny body with diarrhea and vomit. Heart sank to see her in such stake. Hungry but would vomit all out :(

As of today, she has been there for a whole week! Well, of course she was clingy to certain teachers and helpers there. But both of us can sense that she is no longer our cheerful lil' missy. The moment when we get into the car, she would cling onto me so strongly instead of going towards her car seat. It is just a phase right? And at night, it is even harder to get her to sleep. She will hold onto me so tightly. Maybe she has lost some sense of security. Sorry lil' missy. This is a journey we both need to walk through together. And not to mention that hubby took over the house chores when lil' missy took hostage of me! All of us are adapting.. Thank God that we have Him to count on in all our circumstances. Praying that weeks ahead will be easier..

What is this?

That is Missy's first sentence at 16mo!!! Wheeeeeeeeeeee.. Happy that she is growing well. She will also take our hands and pull to whatever she couldn't do such as opening the cabinet for her. Mmm..somehow the sentence sounds so wrong as if our hands are detachable. Haha, no. Missy knows how to call for our help. She will guide us to whatever help she needs from us.

She has been asking us "watsdissssssss, wastsdis" and point to the object. We couldn't believe it at first but somehow figure that our Missy has really grown. She is learning to communicate and talk. But then, she still refuse to call me "mommy". Hmmph. Still, I love her to bits.

Muaksss, darling Missy.

Sweet word to the ears when she starts calling me Momma.

It is going to be a long, looooooooooooong wait before lil' Missy will eventually calls me MOMMY. Sigh, she has been babbling many words like daddey (daddy), eeeeta (ita, my maid's name), aelo (hello), bijubijubiju (err, no idea. Maybe she likes the way her lips and mouth works for her), aw aw (no idea too), woo woo (woof woof, the sound of dog's barking), arp daung (up down), ding dock (tick tock) and... So far, she has called me momma a total of 3 4 times! 3 4 times ONLY and those were out of desperation. And I am not even sure if she's calling me but her actions say she is!

Here are some milestones in her 14mo
1.11.2011 - her first word of momma :) She started calling daddy way before that!
11.11.2011 - her first few steps on her 2 feet.. not so confident but getting there
1.12.2011 - she finally walks without any aid.. though she looks like a skinny penguin, yea, she is walking alright! Way to go, darling!
20.11.2011 - What is so significant on this date? Lil' Missy got her first taste of being caned! Opinionated strong-willed..

And feeding her right now is a task! There were times she refused to let us feed her. She wants to eat on her own. But, but she doesn't really know how to hold the spoon corectly yet. Before the spoon enters her mouth, she would turn it upside down and all the food will drop onto the bowl/floor or even stain her clothes! I am so not ready for mess though I know it will do her good. Sigh..

And there are more developments, we taught her more action songs and she is able to act out the actions. Songs we enjoy singing together especially when there is no one at the back of the car with her. We are the jukebox.
Twinkle, twinkle lilttle star (the very 1st song we taught her and she still loves to sing this song to this very day)
If you are happy and you know it.. clap your hands, stomp your feet, shout hurray
Jesus loves me
Deep and wide (just the 1st stanza)
Deep down in my heart
I'm in the Lord's army
Itsy bitsy spider
The wheel of the bus
New friend found (to encourage walking)

There's more... Looks like I have missed out a few of her development progress. cos she is growing faster than I can find time to write it down ;p and now... ... ... *lallalla* eyes rolling

Artsy fartsy for lil' missy.. Craft session

The only event I remember for Oct. Booo, this is for not jotting down as soon as it happens. What to do? I  am dropped dead by the time I reach home have short term memory..Learnt how to go about introducing art crafts to lil' missy. What do I really need? Patience and a definitely mentally prepared for mess. I am just so not ready to clean up the mess. I think I am a clean freak!

Threw away her 'palm' print because it turned moldy. This will be a picture blog post of the FUN we had.

  

While waiting for our turn, she has started to entertain herself

The dough for her palm print

She doesn't like the mushy mushy touch on her palm

That's it. She's pulling away!!

Her palm print! Unfortunately, it turned moldy after few weeks.

Painting while waiting for the clay to dry.

She prefers to feel the paint..

than to use the string or brush to paint..

Hannah: Eeew, why is her hands full of paint?

Dip, dip, dip.. no way of stopping her

Must guide her hands to the right place before it ends in her mouth.. again!

The fine art vs err...

My cheeky lil' missy.. Love her to bits!

Even when she's a hard baby at times. Talk about multi-tasking at a young age.

Lil' missy's first experience in the pool

Swimming is the only exercise I enjoy. Jogging, badminton and whatever else will just make me feel dizzy, I feel. Lame excuse? I don't deny either. I have one unhealthy lifestyle.. Wait. Does doing house chores and chasing after lil' missy consider an exercise? I sweat too..

Anyways, I do not stay in a condo with easy access to swimming pool and neither am I keen to drive all the way to public swimming pool. No wonder I am ballooning to be a whale in no time if I don't watch out. Maybe vanity should be the drive to have a healthy lifestyle. I need to exercise! Drag my hubby along one of the mornings.. one of those days.

No, this post is not about me.. it is about lil' missy of course! First time mommies will surely want to record their child's, precious ones' many firsts. Also the very reason this blog exists. In September, I know, I know.. a late post. Without a maid now, whatever time and energy I have after lil' missy is spent on house chores. Back to swimming. Lil' missy had her first swim in the pool, INFINITY pool at 1yo! I only get to swim in an infinity pool at age thirties. She's truly one blessed girl. What more. She got another godmother too on the same day too. I've been waiting for this godmother!! Finally... One more person to continuously keeping lil' missy in prayer and loving her. Another great woman to be lil' missy's role model when she grows up. Ooh, and also when mommy (yours truly) needs to take a break.. .. ..

My swimsuit model, in her 1st birthday gift from us

Lil' missy enjoying herself

With her 2 kai-ma's. Look at the view! Awesome.

Damsel in distress!

Lil' missy gained confidence after a few successful attempts getting down from our bed, she was shocked when she slipped (since she still can't stand on her own without aid yet) and fell with a loud THUMP! Maybe it's not loud, but my heart did skip a beat. I saw how she used her hand to lessen the impact of the fall, so, the bump on her head may not be painful. But. no doubt she was shocked!

And from then on, she practiced caution. She will get down and cry for help half way although it is only
few inches more to reach the floor. She learnt from mistakes. It is a cute sight to see her trying to get down on her own, but then cry when she couldn't reach the floor. Yes, I am an evil mom! Hehehe.. but I believe there are times she needs to learn through the hard way. Life is not a bed of roses after all, right? Of course, we do not leave her alone at any times since we have helper to do the house chores, she has our full attention.

My lil' damsel crying for help.. if you look closely, she's only a few inches away..

Sleep, oh sleep..

How I miss thee..

How do you put an active 1 yo to sleep? What do you normally do? Do you go through the same motion every time before bedtime as advised by all the experts? I know we have not been doing right somewhere, but now, we have to resort to this whenever we I want her to sleep. My hubby will play with her until I am done with my tasks and to take over from him. And when I take over...

 

My hand will become her bolster.. And I have to literally pin her head down. Else, she will be moving up, down, up down.. rolling here and there to all the four corners of our bed. 

Lil' missy, mommy and daddy want to sleep too. When you don't, we can't... And you need to sleep more in order to grow well too. You are only 7.3kg at 1yr and 2 week.

Chicken in the menu

Finally, lil’ missy had her first taste of chicken meat. Why such a long delay? Well, I agree with the opinions of my friend. Her son has some indigestion issue (I hope I remember it right) and only gets better when his diet changed.  His diet consists of only these 7 ingredients only – pumpkin, sweet potato, potato, red dates, longan, sweet corn and “lut zhi” (still not sure what that is until now) until more than a year old.  I do agree that babies’ and infants’ digestion and whatever there is in the body are still developing. And that is also the reason we introduce any new food to them in stages. Read here or here if you would like to know more about feeding solids.

Back to my lil’ missy, since she has been passing motion twice a day at least, so I stick to my variety of vege but fish for meat only.  I hope she won’t be sick of fish when she’s grown up.  As to her first chicken menu, it’s dates, gei zhi and .... don’t remember what else in the oats porridge since this blog is supposed to be posted weeks ago! Sigh, if only I had written it down much earlier. Well, just a note to say that she’s having chicken now!

one, two, three, FOUR!

Does teething cause loose stools? Lil' missy has been passing out loose stools, very loose on day one and slightly ok, but still loose on day tow. Could it be because we have been travelling (again) that caused her poo-poo time all mixed up? She can poo two to three times a day! Or could it be hygiene? Or diet? We have not changed her diet much except for pork, which she tried only a day ago. And pearl barley but that was almost a week... hmmm...Or multi-grain porridge is too much for her lil' tummy to handle? Other than worrying us, she is also giving us some 'exercise' by crawling about, climbing up and down. Well, maybe we are too worried. Not? Arrggghhhh, if only she can tell me if she doesn't feel well.

Ooh, almost forgotten about her teething. See? Her loose stools is very worrying! When we all thought she would have all four at the bottom, she surprised us with 4 from the top coming out at the same time. She has been having only her two bottom teeth for a long time. Tunggu punya tunggu, nothing happens except for the swollen gum at the bottom next to the two bottom teeth. That makes us thought she will have four bottom. But when we heard her grinding her teeth, I got a shocked when I realized that there are four lil' whitish teeth popping out! Gee, she's growing!!

When she starts to walk..

I hope I get the chance to see her walk for the first time, without any aid. Just today or was it yesterday, she let go of her hands from any support for a few seconds before ending up on her bum. It's a sign to me that she is going to walk any time soon. I fear that she won't wait for me and starts to walk at my in-law's place. Sigh, only if I can spend time with her more, even during weekdays.

One more month..

My lil' missy is turning 1 in another month's time. Time flies!!!! I am thankful that she is growing well although still below percentile. She has finally increased her milk intake to 5oz except for the night feed. Well, it is still a progress than 3.5-4 oz on each feed. Though it is not a good measurement of her growth, but it is a great relieve than to see her being the same size of a 5.5mo baby. Arrgghhhh, the stress of fearing lil' missy is not catching up as she should be. Or maybe, we as parents have missed out something?

I will remind myself again and again that there is no manual on raising a healthy child. Every individual is different. Our heavenly Father does not copy and paste. Every child of His is unique.. So, trusting Him to take care of her. I'll do my part and He'll do the rest...

Lil' missy at few days' old... on my post delivery tummy ;)

Lil' missy at 10mo

Me 'sucking' lil' missy's brain