A Love Affair

Little bundle of joy, which everyone congratulated us in the beginning when we had baby Dan, did not quite relate to me back then.

It was certainly not love at first sight for me. Staring at this tiny human being that soon will take control of my life for the first few months and the years to come. This screaming and unreasonable little baby.

I would say my love affair started around in the third month when baby Dan started smiling and playing and his crying became more predictable.

Now half way through to his first birthday, I would confidently say I am in love with my son. His smiles, giggles and surprises he provides everyday.

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.

A Bid Farewell

Had a farewell barbecue for Rizwan today at the beach. It was nice and cool for a change as it rained almost the whole day. It turned out to be a nice evening catching up with friends.

While we were waiting for the fire to get started and the food to be done, Dan started to get a little agitated as sleep time was approaching and a little overwhelmed by so many people. Mi decided to bring him for a walk along the coast. The next moment I saw, baby Dan laying so peacefully in Mi's arms.

I really appreciated what Mi did and for a change I could spend time with friends without needing to soothe Dan to sleep.

I guess fathers just need a little bit more time to be with their babies to develop the same instinct that mums have.

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.

Concept of Time

After lunch, I met Piret today for a guided tour through the peranakan museum. Then, we headed off for tea at the national museum. I had a chocolate orange cupcake and she had a hazelnut chocolate muffin.

A wonderful afternoon I would say. Before parting, we made plans for the week to meet up again, which was for a farewell barbecue for Riz. Funny enough, we knew it was going to be in the evening yet not knowing exactly what time the barbecue was.

At the end, Piret just said: Ah, we just don't really need to keep exact track of time. We will just check our calendars and turn up on that day.

At times it is good to have time at your own expense. Planning your day as it goes, and just going with the flow.

I am a Big Boy Now

Looking back at pictures it is amazing how fast babies grow from new born through to infancy. As a mum, it was an excruciating first three months of sleep deprivation and crying out of no reason.

However, looking back now, it seems that it was just yesterday, baby Dan was new born.

You would always want time to pass quickly, but at present, you would want to rewind back into the past. Maybe it's time to just enjoy the present and be happy.

Courage

Courage is an attribute that I have build up being a mum. Bring more confident of my decisions and facing new challenges everyday.

Memories

Mi asked me one day why am I still keeping the keychain since it is not working anymore.

I think our memory capacity is limited. Therefore, we tend to hold on to objects to remember. I took a photo of the keychain and store it as a memory instead.

How many times we go through the basement or attic to find toys or items of yesteryears that has been in storage for ever. Should we still keep it until it becomes an antique or pass it on to someone who can really make good use of it?

Get Out and Roam Free

A little bit of fresh air will do you good. Not only you get to do your daily exercise it will help you take your mind off things and help you to relax.

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.

Reintegration After Europe

It has been 3 weeks since we got back from Europe, soon it will be end of the month. Looking back, it has been a short month, yet a pretty eventful one. It started with finding the house in a mess with maggots in the fridge and a "clan" of cockroaches under the stove. DHL decided to restructure again, and they are ending the lease of the current office and moving everyone out of town. I had to quit my job as they did not approve my sabbatical to take care of little Dan for another few more months.

Updates as of today, maggots and cockroaches cleared out. Mi's status on where he will be working from October onward, unclear, Singapore? Prague? Bonn? No one knows until then. My job, officially resigned, awaiting for my bonus and HR to let me know how much I owe them.

It was hard to adapt after one month in Europe with perfect weather for walks. I never knew it was that hot in Singapore until now. Therefore, I have been hiding with Daniel in the room day long ever since we got back. Hopefully this will change next week with friends visiting and my parents coming over. I cannot wait to restart my life as a full time mum.

Now with the kitchen back in working order, I need to restock the pantry and start planning for daily meals, I kind of figured out that packing and ordering food delivery is not the way out. Moving onward, I need to plan for  Dan's daily meals as soon he will start on solids.

We have since started looking for apartments as well, as our lease will be ending soon and the rent is going to go up. Therefore, we thought the best idea now is to invest in an apartment and not worry about increase in rental or the need to move. We are hoping to this sorted out by end of July.

And last I need to get my two feet back onto the ground and restructure my life, with my new found freedom as a full time mum :)

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.