Dunstan Baby Language

My boss lent me a DVD called the "Dunstan Baby Language" (Website: http://www.dunstanbaby.com). It teaches us - the adults - how to decipher the baby's cries and by knowing what each type of crying sounds means, what solution you should use to soothe the baby.

The main 5 crying sounds are:

1) Neh: Baby is hungry (Listen for the "n" sound)
2) Owh: Baby is tired (Note the oval-shaped mouth)
3) Eh: Baby is saying "Burp me!" (Listen for the "eh" sound)
4) Eairh: Baby is having some wind pain in lower tummy (Listen for the more urgent "r" sound)
5) Heh: Baby is uncomfortable (Listen for the breathy "h" sound)

I find it so cute and endearing when they show examples of how the babies make those sounds. As I watched, I was half-laughing-and-tearing cuz I was feelin' very emotional inside... I also duno why I reacted that way. Is this called "maternal instincts"? Hubby was shaking his head and muttering "xiao!" beneath his breath when he saw me reacting that way. Oh those ang moh babies are soooooooooo cute...

I hope I will be able to apply all the above techniques when my own baby arrives, and not be a flustered and lost-control mom!

Weight Conscious?

Hmm... I am wondering... Is my baby girl already "weight conscious" even when she's not out into this world yet? Since she has been considered "slim" every time we did the checkup at the gynae clinic...

Recently have been more and more bothered about MY weight and MY growth, cuz my tummy seems to be getting bigger (than ever) and some people commented that I look BIG for this stage. But hey, I am going to be in my 3rd tri next month liao leh... How small can I remain? But some others say my tummy not very big leh.. So confusing comments. It doesn't help the situation much when you have a tall and slim pregnant boss in office, so the comparison of the tummy growth is inevitable. Her tummy, at 5th month, is still barely visible while mine is already so protuding. (Despite that her tummy being not obvious, her baby boy's growth is very good - Already at 470g at 5th month, whereas my baby girl weighs 490g at her 6th month )

Actually I don't mind that I have a big tummy cuz it makes me look more maternal, and I quite like my new protuding tummy. Except that I am not sure if my baby is also growing well, together with my growing tummy...

I just hope my baby will grow well and healthy, and reach a healthy mark on the scale next time we go for the scan.

Puppetry Politics

He - is just like the hand behind the puppets, controlling the whole big stage without even revealing himself to the audience.

He - can live in exile, away from his home country but his beloved people still listen to him.

He - alone, can oppose/ cause damage to a country's government.

This is just like puppetry politics (a term I came up myself). I can't stand why the people are so foolish, fancy listening to someone who had betrayed himself, betrayed the country yet refusing to heed the government's advice to shake hands in peace.

Must they cause the once-popular-tourist destination to go down to zero ground, and that they have no more viable livelihood when nobody visits their country, and nobody buys their goods, and nobody patronises their stalls? Must they see themselves going to waste just like that? Just by listening to a cowardly puppet master who refuses to face up to his acts by being an escapist?

My off-day @ Home, after the long weekend...

Have to clear leave by end June so decided to take the Monday off, after the long weekend on Good Friday. It's a right choice cuz I got to do my favourites - bloggin' and scrapbookin' and nappin' and catching up on recorded TV serials @ home...

Since I will be slackin' at home today, have to make plans for my 3 meals so that in order not to step out of the house at all.

Prepared my own lunch - Spinach noodles with Yong Tau Foo soup

Dear says its yucky cuz he dun like such soggy noodles (let alone spinach noodles!!) and he dun like Yong Tau Foo soup..haha.. But I think this is a nutritious and easily-prepared meal.

Also prepared a simple homecooked dinner for the 3 of us - Husband, Me & Baby.

• Pan-fried omelette with chopped long beans
• Soup: Pork Ribs, tofu, tomatoes, sweet corn & carrots
  

Then followed by a Sara Lee Strawberry Cheese Cake dessert!

It's nice! Do try it if you are a fan of cheesecake with high-sided biscuit crust at the bottom... Yummy!

Yah la...so practically the whole day I am eating lah.. haha...

Antenatal Lesson 4: Practical Hands-on Baby Care

Sunday 12 April 2009:

Lesson 4
Practical Hands-on Baby Care	• Hands-on Child Care • General Care • Skin Care • Diaper Care • Bathing • Coping with a Fretting, Crying Baby • Coping with a Sleepy or Wakeful Baby • Coping with Colic • Instructional Video • Q & A

Finally we've reached the lesson whereby we can learn practical tips on taking care of the baby. Thou the books I've gotten from TMC already have all these, but nothing beats being OJT (On-Job-Training) right?

Every couple will have a baby doll for practice while Mrs Wong go through with us the correct procedures of cleaning the baby, bathing the baby, drying the baby, swaddling the baby. Both of us are very serious and carry the baby as if its a real baby. Instinctively I will carry the baby in a careful way, thou not very familiar with keep changing hands la. But the more I carry, I more I yearn to carry our own baby in my own hands.. The more I yearn the day when I can see my dearest baby in front of our eyes, being cuddled and loved by us... I am so happy to see that Dear is very careful in handling the baby, taking the initiative to stand up and see how Mrs Wong is doing if he can't see that well when sitting down. The fathers somehow get more practice than the mothers leh, wonder why? Is it because Mrs Wong wants the fathers to get more hands-on with taking care of the baby? I would say I am assured that my hubby will definitely be a hands-on and dedicated daddy..

The only problem I have is learning how to fold the cloth diapers and wrapping the baby's with a tight yet not suffocating diaper. But I never give up despite I am having problems getting it correct. I stayed back and learned from Mrs Wong personally till I get it right. Although we are going to use disposable diapers, but it never hurts to learn it well now.

We also got to learn how to massage the baby and I definitely looking forward to massaging our baby and making her comfortable...hee.. Cuz I myself love the pampering session of massaging

The day before, we went to IKEA to get a new sofa bed mattress to replace the current old one we have. So that me and the confinement lady will sleep on that sofa bed in the same room with the baby. We also went through the furniture items for the nursery room. All noted down liao, and will be going next round to complete the purchase as we were rushing for a movie on that night. So excited when I visualise how our baby's nursery room will look like... Can't wait for Dear to start working on it in June!

Come to think of it, I am going to be in my 3rd trimester next month, and very soon I will be counting down to our baby's birth in July... Time really flies isn't it? I can say, I really enjoy my 2nd trimester of the pregnancy and hope this will carry on to my 3rd trimester and even be so happy after giving birth.

Sentosa Outing on Good Friday 2009

Dear's colleagues organised an outdoor outing @ the Sentosa on the Good Friday holiday. The suggested activities are frisbee-ing, volleyballing & picnic-ing. Being pregnant, of cuz I can't do the first 2 activities, but I can definitely do picnic-ing! haha... Pigging in fact  It wasn't much of a picnic cuz we dun have a nice picnic mat. We just brought some foods, tibits & drinks on our own & make it a picnic (without the mat!)

Out J.Co donuts contribution to the picnic

Us on the way to Sentosa...

Just Us...

The Group Pics

The guys getting active & sweaty under the scorching sun (with the threatening of the dark gloomy clouds appearing...)

While tai-tai Mama Yam sat under this sheltered Cabana @ Cafe Del Mar.. hee...

Cafe Del Mar

I like the Cabana style, and even the beds under the umbrella, thou they are all quite dirty. Need to put a towel before lying down on them. Anyway, we are supposed to have minimum purchase of $200 if we use the cabana, but they are somehow flexible. In the end all of us only ordered a drink that costs around $5-$6.

After their sweltering games, the guys decided to cool down with drinks in the cabana and some card games.

Oh no.. It's pouring cats & dogs...

Everyone has to take shelter in a big porch, and the guys started psp-ing while I stare into blank space lor..

Teck San took a picture of Baby Yam while we waiting for the rain to stop...

Had a great holiday spent in Sentosa, cuz I can rest and relax by the beach with a book and drink in hand. Dear also had fun with the guys, complete with a good sweat! That's the kind of holiday I like and look forward to nowadays... Except the rain is quite dampening mood la.. The whole day outside is quite tiring for me too..

An Endearing Moment for Papa, Mama & Baby Yam

Yesterday night was an endearing moment for Papa, Mama & Baby Yam.

Baby Yam is now kicking/punching harder each day, and finally Papa Yam has felt her movements (vibrations on the tummy) for the first time!!!  When he first felt it, he looked at me intently and I nodded my head, signaling that "yes it is her." He was so thrilled and kept laughing and laughing cuz its so funny to be feeling it for the first time. I was also both happy and touched, that I kept laughing and tearing at the same time... He then managed to feel for the next few times. That was the endearing moment between the 3 of us.

I was more fortunate than Papa Yam. I actually witnessed my tummy moved up and down in a swift when she moves. Its so cute! I will even stare at my tummy for the next 5 minutes, hoping to catch that special move again... I tried to get Papa Yam to stare at my tummy, wishing that he will get to witness with me too, but Baby Yam has been cheeky, purposely not moving lor. That Papa Yam also impatient one. After few seconds, then he decided to stop staring liao.. Never mind la, Mama Yam shall embrace that special moment with her baby herself...