There is No End

When you are a mum, your day never ends. You do not sleep, you only nap.

Conformity

If members of the family are happy, is it that important to conform to the society's norm?

What is the society's norm anyway, if you are staying away from the society that you were brought up in?

As part of building a new family together, I think it is important to lay down the foundation of the new norm together as a family instead of fully conforming to the ones that we were brought up with or with the ones that are around us. 

Under the Weather

The whole family has been under the weather for the past week. All of us were feeling so down and trying our best to some sleep whenever possible... except for little Dan. He does not seem to be feeling anything. With nose runny and coughing from time to time, you still see that fire in his eyes, ever playing and ever smiling.

A Tribute to All Mothers

"By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class." -- Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1907- 2001)


A special tribute to Christine, who will be starting work soon. I cannot imagine me being able to manage both baby and work together with breastfeeding and the night wakings.

You Have Done Your Best!

No one ever knows exactly whether they have done right or wrong. The fact that you have been trying, shows that you have already done your best.

-Emil-

This goes to all mums out there. A big thank you to my mum!

Take It As It Goes

Take each day as it goes, there is only so much you can do in a day. Tackle one matter at a time and you will see progress.

Walk Away

When you are tired and cannot take it anymore, just walk away and take a deep breath then continue what you were doing later instead of having an out break.

Reliving Nursery Rhymes

I have always been interested in story books and nursery rhymes when I was younger. It is funny how our memory works. Those nursery rhymes that I used to recite just stuck to my memory and got stowed away. After having baby Dan, slowly but surely day by day, the nursery rhymes that were stored at the deep far end of my memory started to reappear, twinkle twinkle little star, baa baa black sheep, mary had a little lamb. Even those that were not quite popular at that point of time.

Now looking back, nursery rhymes were just rhymes to us that we recite. As an adult, trying to literally interpret it, most of them have a tragic end. Here are some

Baby falls from the cradle from the tree?

Rock-a-bye baby, on the tree top.

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall.

Down will come baby, cradle and all.

Poor Humpty Dumpty...

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

Jack and Jill rolling down the hill?

Jack and Jill when up the hill to fetch a pail of water

Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.

This makes me wonder what is the criteria of nursery rhyme selection and whether there is a moral behind it.

Humpty Dumpty Had a Great Fall

Today's morning started with a loud "THUD" accompanied by a shriek. I guess that is a sound that a mother would dread. Lesson learnt, you can never be too careful with a baby who has started learning to roll. Never to place a baby at the edge of the bed even with the crib at the edge preventing the baby from falling.

Baby Friendly

Spent the day at the immigration authority trying to get a visa extension for Dan. Fearing that they will deport baby Dan back home. Ha! Seems like we were not the only ones with a little baby, there were others with newborns. I really like the system back home where you get a different queue number if you are with a baby. It kind of make sense, rather than spending the whole morning waiting in line with the baby in a crowded area.

Buses here do not allow prams on board. While I understand that space might be an issue, I do not understand the bus company's idea that baby in the arms of a mum is safer. On top of balancing a squirming baby, she will have to balance the folded-up stroller, diaper bag, plus maybe groceries, while the bus driver does not even offer to help loading the stroller on the bus.

On the way home, I decided to drop by the grocers to get some stuff. The aisle of the grocers was just right to accommodate a stroller and one person, while I was shopping around, a lady wanted to pass, there was just enough space for her to pass. However, she had to comment: "it is already so cramp and you want to push your stroller into the grocers." Seriously, what can I do? Should I leave the baby outside while I do the shopping?

The Little Things That Make Me Happy

Treat yourself with a little something everyday after a long tiring day. Indulge and be happy. :)

Hugs and Kisses

As a mum, it is the smile and giggles that are returned from hugs and kisses given that drive my day.

Green Day

Not bad for a change to dress baby boys in green rather than the cliche baby blue.

Baby Dan in green :)

Happy Parenting

There is no right and wrong in parenting, no one exactly knows. As long as the child is given a positive and safe environment to live in, that's the most important.

So focus on the relationship with your spouse first before tending to the child's needs.

And be Happy!

2 July 2011

I believe that skills learnt cannot be forgotten. However, it might take a little time to recall and get it back.

30 June 2011

It rained almost the whole day today. It is a good thing as it did not feel as hot as it usually would.

We decided to get one of the apartments we viewed. At the end of the day there is no right and wrong decision as Emil says. Everything will turn out fine in the end.

Had a nice dinner with Christine and Trae. And a nice journey back home enjoying the weather after the rain.

29 June 2011

Dan's day out today, get out of the house and you will feel better, although you might think that you cannot control the situation. You cannot anyway! So go and roam free.

It has been an eventful day, apartment viewing, meeting up with a university mate that I have not met for 6 years, catching up with friends, celebrating a birthday, shopping for a baptism gown for a friend's niece.

Let's see how tomorrow goes.

One Line A Day

I can admit that I am pretty bad at following through. For example this blog, which I wanted to start writing thoughts as memories for the future. I have started 5 posts yet unable to finish them. I just read on a site on 10 ways to keep track of year one with baby.

1. Baby Memory Book
2. Journal
3. Video
4. Newspaper
5. Coins and Stamps
6. Handprints
7. Memory Box
8. Christmas Ornaments
9. Jewellery
10. Wine or Champagne

What caught my eye was the one line a day journal. Since I have started this blog and have to scratch my head on how to keep this alive. I will start writing my thoughts of the day everyday.