Hoarding milk powder

This post is inspiried by Kiasu Mom.

Fortunately for me, I pumped till Ryan was 2 years old. And so, I started to buy milk powder only from then. And since I bought it till now, I think the price has increased by 50%! Thanl goodness for the power of the breasts!

Whenver I go buy any of the Enfa series, I am told that this is the milk powder which increases its price fastest and yet, still has the most number of people buying it. And whenver I am told of a possible increase in prices, I will hoard and hoard the milk. I know, I am contributing to the inflations but then ...

The only reason I buy it is because it is from Mead Johnson and now I am beginning to think if the manufacturer is really so important.

Many years ago, I read some where that mothers are a funny kind. Whenever they pick up a can of milk powder, it must contain the most ingredients and that will be the can of choice. And it does not really matter WHAT those ingredients are nor how much is in it. But it must be the longest.

What about you? How do you choose your kid's milk powder?

Ideas coming to me

I have this peculiar way of having ideas when I least expect it, especially ideas on what to blog or some other money making ideas.

I am not sure about you, but my ideas usually come when I am driving (and therefore have no hands to write them down) or when I am bathing (and therefore would have to expose myself if I decide to grab a pen) or when I am about to sleep (and therefore would mean I have to get up, find my pen and paper in half darkness and then finding myself wide awake after writing them down).

So, when I finally do sit down like this to write, my mind is blank and hence I am writing this. I actually did have a brilliant idea just now while I was bathing ... now I cannot remember it.

Don't you just hate it? What about you? When do your ideas usually come?

He cries, she cries, I cry, everybody cries!

2 days ago, I was having a bad morning with Ryan and hubby. Ryan was being difficult as always, but this time, it resulted in his dad almost smacking him.

First, he did not want to wake up, then he refused to change, then he refused to brush his teeth, then don't want to wear socks. Then refused breakfast and then kicked his dad when his dad tried to put on his shoes. That was when he almost got a hard one.

Sigh, I got so stressed trying to separate the two that I worked up quite a temper in the car, when sending him to school. I was literally screaming and he was (I think) a little surprised.

Anyway, when I dropped him off, I got so worked up, I broke down in the car. Sigh, one of those days I guess when you think you have done all the possible wrongs after believing you are the best mum ever.

Fast forward to today, we had another scolding session. Ryan worked up quite a tantrum when we had to leave the pool this morning and got his hands smacked when he hit me.

Then in the afternoon, he stood howling at the door when he could not see what was in the package I gave to our neighbour's son for his burthday.

Coupled with a 6-month ago, I lost it momentarily and I too started to cry. I think Ryan was now horrified and came hugging me and kissing me. He repeated words that I would use when I console him. He was really sweet. Not only that, because I was sobbing, he started to sob too and pretty soon, he was sobbing uncontrolably! And then Megan started to cry!! Arghh!!!

But after we cooled down, we were good. I guess, crying once a while helps to release all the stress as well as help us shed some toxins, ya? But the one thing that struck me was how much my emotions affected him, which got me thinking if my stress were actually causing him to feel so defiant and consistently in a bad mood. I always saw him as a sweet boy.

Maybe, I should step back and take things easy huh?

A link to Michael Jackson's Grammy performance in 1988

I am putting this down more for my consumption. This guy's footwork is great! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snjlNkl9PAA

Megan and her accidents

I wrote about Megan falling off the bed some time in June. Two days ago, she did it again!

This time though, it was in the morning. I had placed her in the middle of the bed thinking that it would take her some time to roll to the edge. I was in the bathroom, about a nano second away, brushing Ryan's teeth.

However, with the force of my milk milk, she managed to roll herself over to the edge in seconds and "poop", she was on the floor!! Thankfully though, in both times, God was watching over her and she landed on a bolster which protected her head.

She let out a cry but was smiling when her daddy picked her up.

Today, she was involved in another accident. She literally flew out of her walker. Ryan was pushing her around and then I heard her screamed.

Her walker over turned and she was lying on the floor, body half out of the walker and she was so shocked, she could not move herself. I lifted her out and inspected her, no harm done except for the eye socket area which hit the metal stand of her rocker. It turned red.

I looked at Ryan, wanting to scold, then remembered it was only an accident and I am sure he did not mean any harm. True enough, his eyes turned red and teary and then he started to cry when he saw Megan crying!

The wheels on the rocker caught the carpet and resulted in the walker over turned when it was pushed with force. I am sure Ryan felt guilty and he was sorry. I hugged both of them and gradually the tears and cries subsided.

Sigh, parenting is always a learning process and I am learning well everyday.

How Ryan reacts to Megan's poop

Last Sunday, we were home with Megan walking around in her walker and Ryan playing his stuff. Suddenly, Megan made a face and my mum said "Oh oh, think she is pooping." I pretended not to hear because I thought if her daddy walks through the door, I should be fine.

At last, no such luck. I had to change her nappies and found this here.

Aiya, had to change then, no choice. Just then Ryan came in and exclaimed in horror when he realised that Megan's poop had filled the air.

I had asked him to quickly grab a plastic bag for me to throw the wet tissues away. Off he went and he came back with a plastic bag and something else.

This is his make believe mask and he said this "Wear this, no smell one. Really." And he proceeded to go really close to the poop to inspect it. And all the while, he said no smell, despite the big big hole in the play. It was actually a toy and so, did not have any mask on it, just a mould to wear over the face.

After we cleaned Megan, Ryan still went to smell her buttock and loudly proclaimed "Megan still smells, like got ngm-ngm (poop)" He really did go and smell her, I was laughing mad picturing Ryan above and his believe that he cannot smell the poop despite being within inches from it.

Kids, they really brighten up my day.

Ryan's concert

Last Friday, Ryan had his school concert and I was the one who was a little too excited and as a result did not get sufficient sleep.

No matter, the day came and I was up bright and early and could not wait to get Ryan off to school. It was his second concert and I must say, he has changed quite a bit.

Last year, he was offered the microphone but he shied away. This year, he took the mic confidently. He took it with such confidence that I could not help but to feel really proud of him. He recited his poem beautifully, sang heartily and even smiled and waved to us relentlessly. He also sang beautifully in Mandarin although I know that he did not really know some of the words.

The whole session ended with a "Save the earth" song which tells us adults to be really mindful of our ways so that we can preserve nature for the future generations. It lasted about 2 hours plus and we had tea afterward. My parents came too and we were in the audience and Ryan did not once attempt to run towards us. He just smiled and waved to us.

Ah ... the joys (and not) of being a parent. Hope to bring Megan to the one happening next year.

Megan's tooth

While putting my hands into Megan's mouth yesterday, I felt a sharp sensation on my fingers. Turns out, Megan is getting her new teeth, starting with the bottom left incisors.

With both my kids, I do not have any problems with their teeth coming out except some irritation which is nothing my breast milk cannot take care off!

Isn't it great? She is growing too quickly!

Megan gets into the pool!

Megan turned 6 months last week but I waited another week before I brought her into the pool since technically, she was about a week early.

A friend had bought her a set of bikini and it was in bright orange. When I first looked at it, I was picturing it in my mind, hmm ... must be pretty.

When we brought her to the pool, I was half anticipating that she would be shocked and wail, but nothing like that happened. She actually took it quite well. She even kicked around and was able to move herself a bit.

All through the some 30 minutes we were at the pool, she was happily smiling and playing. Ryan had a field time when he found out that she was going to be able to go to the pool with him. It was quite a treat for him.

When they both came back up, they were so tired that they dropped to sleep almost immediately and Megan slept for a good 1 hour - something she has not done for me before!

I feel like I am having a crush on someone

Haha, no, I am not really having a crush, just like I feel like one now.

Ryan is having his school concert today and I have been up since 6am, cannot sleep. Feeling so excited. I know, I am so silly, but my boy is up on stage today and I feel so proud of him.

Will update with photos later.

My 6 month old Megan

This is Megan in January 2009. She looked very much like her big brother.

Here she is in February at the doctor's clinic for one of her many injections during her first year. She has not cried once so far. My brave little darling.

In the month of March, her first time to Atria, Damansara Jaya. She lost her ladybird hand rattle there. I have been trying to replace it ever since. Anyone knows where I can get a ladybird hand rattle from Goldbug? Apparently it is a hit seller.

In the month of April, she discovered that a vertical view of the world is a whole lot more interesting! Great thing this Bumbo seat is!

My 35th birthday in May is celebrated with my family, this year with little Megan joinning in.
This year's Father's Day in June also marked Megan's first time to the beach. It was very hot for her though.

Her latest feat on the walker marks her completing her 6 months of life and going into it strongly.

Megan starts her solids today

And you can see from her face above, she did not exactly take it too well. We gave her red rice powder, just like the one we gave Ryan 4 years back.

I think Megan took a whole spoonfull in the 2 feedings we gave her the whole day. She did not hesitate to gulp down her milk though.

Hmm ... I think she is addicted to me! We will try again next week and see how she takes it.

Really love this one to bits!

On their walkers

These were both taken when they were 6 months old.

And I have this habit of asking "Which do you think is Megan and which is Ryan?"

I am one happy mum!

Ryan got rid of his diaper!

On Sunday, Ryan went to bed with his diapers. While trying to sleep, he took off the diaper and then went to sleep. After an hour, he woke up screaming, he had wet himself and he was angry with himself. After calming him, we put the diaper back and he went to sleep.

On Monday night, we put the diaper on and he went to sleep. The next morning, I woke him up to find that the diaper was thrown out in the middle of the night. But the good thing was that, he was still dry!! Yay!

This morning, he again woke up without his diaper and he was still dry. Double yay!!

And now, he just slept (yes, I know, it is late, but technically, I cannot make him go to sleep, right?) without the diaper. I have to sneak up on him to do that. And I am wondering if he will wake up tomorrow morning without his diapers again.

If he does, that would mean, I can stop spending all those money on diapers, triple yay!!

Should I get an iphone?

For a while now I have been thinking about getting the iphone. I know, I know, it has been out in the market for a while now. But I have always been slow when it comes to techie stuff. I am a confirmed techie blur.

The reason why I cannot shake it off my head is because Maxis has this huge billboard right down the road I take everyday to work. It is always there right smack to my face. It really looks very nice and sleek, the sort of phone you won't mind taking if out of your bag often.

I really do not know much about the full specs, but I think it is suffice to know that anything that Apple does should be quite user friendly. My only other thing from Apple is my ipod and it is great.

A friend of mine has one of the earliest ones when it was launched. I must say that it is quite a stunner. However, one of the things you must constantly do is to download its latest updates to its software. I wonder if a techie blur like me will be able to handle it though.

She also showed me its touch screen functionality and said it was great for playing games, something her little 5 year old is already good with. Hmm, not really something I want Ryan to see though. I do not want him hooked to my laptop AND my phone!

Of course, as with all things from Apple, I am sure there are loads of accessories which will help enhance its looks and functions. Most basic ones that I can think of will be the iphone accessories, iphone charger and the iphone cases.

However, one big big thing for me is the price tag. With that amount of money, I can actually pay a whole year of Megan's insurance premium! And I also wonder with its high end specs and all, how long will it take before it becomes obsolete?

Sigh, so many questions, do you think it is worth getting?

My kids, my motivation

When I first had Ryan, I was obsessed with quitting my job. I had wanted to be at home with my baby, seeing his little face, watching him smile, changing and feeding him. But I also had a concern, what will I do to sustain my income level?

Pretty soon, the spark fizzled and I was back to my old working self although I hated every minute I was away from Ryan.

4 years on and with Megan's arrival, I have this itch again. This time, my motivation is no longer what it was with Ryan. I no longer want to be a stay at home mum, rather I want to be a mum who can devote her time for her kids AND run something on the side with income exceeding my current levels. Looks ambitious huh?

But I have a great friend who has shown me that it is indeed possible. That it is not a task that is too difficult to accomplish. That my dreams of being with my kids when they come back from school is not going to remain a dream anymore. That it is possible to sustain my lifestyle plus so much more.

So here I am, looking at my kids, admiring them, adoring them, thinking, planning, realising that my dreams is on its way to becoming true. Kids are truly a miracle. They make us mummies want to do things for them, they make us mummies want to do things because of them.

My kids are truly my motivation.

Megan bites her toes!

Last weekend, we saw Megan doing this. She was putting her legs high and was sucking on her toes! I was really amazed by it since I never saw Ryan doing any of these things.

Megan would suck on her left thumb till the nails became uneven and flaky. And now this, she is doing this. Whenever she puts her toes into her mouth, I watch in delight.

Kids are such lovely beings. Both my kids behave very differently, this is one of them. Looking forward to seeing more differences tomorrow.

How does dragon fruit come about?

Ryan told me this out of the blue last night.

Ryan: Mummy, you know how dragon fruits are made?
Me: No, how are they made?
Ryan: The dragon fly breathe fire and then you get the dragon fruit.
Me: Wow, aren't you a clever one!

Really, kids have tonnes of imagination don't they?