Eunice's First Eating Out

As a very particular mum (and dad also), we try our very very best to let Eunice eat only home cooked food. The only non home cook food that we let her eat are probably cereal, baby cookies or rusks, bread, and maybe some fish or toufu (digged till deep inside) while we're eating out. Even though the websites said we can put some seasoning for toddler at age 1, but EG still doesn't allow me to put any soy sauce or salt in Eunice's food. So, we have been drinking some really really "natural tasting" soup while we are having meals together at home. :)

But last few weekend, we decided to go out for a lunch on a Sunday noon. We went to Chillis. And there's this Kids Eat for Free thingy, so looking through the whole menu, we ordered cheesy macaroni for Eunice, thinking if it's too salty, we'll eat it ourselves. I actually brought Eunice's porridge together with me. So, I had backup plan. ;)

The free macaroni for kids

I'm kind of impressed when the food came. It's a big plate! NO wonder all the parents love to bring kids to Chilis for meals. But it's just plain macaroni with cheese, nothing else. No meat no vegetable. I fed Eunice half of her porridge, then I let her eat the macaroni. :)... We tasted it first and decided to let her try as it's not salty nor it's full of flavoring.

The guava juice

The meal came with drinks also. We changed the soft drinks to guava juice (FOC). But the juice was very sweet. I think it's not fresh juice but it's from some packet drinks. So, I drank more than half of it, and diluted it with Eunice's water.

First row: Little girl eating her macaroni yum yum 2nd row: The small finger prints on the glass, drinking the diluted guava juice, continue eating her macaroni

Oh my little girl loves the macaroni so much. I put some in her bowl and she could pick them up one and one and feed herself while I'm enjoying my meals. It's one of my most relaxing lunch so far. :)...

And I think my little girl is really no more a baby now. I feel more relax while bringing her out (unlike last time when she's younger I'll get all stressed out!). And this coming weekend we're going to bring her for a wedding dinner. Let's see how she's going to behave there. I surely hope she'll be able to sit through the whole dinner. *Fingers & toes crossed!*

Walking

Since Eunice becomes 1, I've been waiting for her to walk, I mean real one, not by pushing a walker or a laundry basket. After her 1 yr old birthday, she did stand up a few times without support, but when we tried to make her to do it again, she refused to stand. So, I said she's a lazy girl. :)

A colleague actually commented that maybe because she's too chubby, so that's why she is not walking yet. EG and I laughed over it, but later we saw this in Wikipedia. :P

• To toddle is to walk unsteadily; the term cruising is sometimes used for toddlers who cannot toddle but must hold onto something while walking.
• On average, a child begins walking between 9 and 14 months of age. The age at which children start to walk can generally be determined by their gender, physical attributes and family genes. Small, light children usually walk earlier than heavy, large children.

Is my Eunice consider heavy & large child? Hehe! :P

But once she crosses her 13th month, she has been trying to stand up without support very often. And whenever she managed to stand up, she'll herself cheer and clap her little hands, and try to take steps. :)

It's not easy to take her video because she always gets very excited when she sees the camera. But we finally managed to take two short videos of her trying to walk before getting distracted by the camera. :)

Part I: Got excited when saw the camera



Part II: Trying to walk to Daddy

First Weight Loss

I love to go for Eunice's monthly check. Sometimes I'll just go even though she's just having some very mild flu or cough, or something nothing at all, but I want to know her weight and her height. So, I'll make up some reason to go for checkup even though there's no monthly jab.

Since Eunice is born, she has been putting on weight. And her weight is very good (according to many friends around me), and of course me as mummy is proud over it. Every mum likes to know that their child is growing well.

Before CNY, Eunice had some mild flu and cough, and knowing that no clinic or hospital will open during CNY, we brought her to Taiping Columbia Asia to get some medication before the public holiday. And we weighed her. With her diaper on, and I think the weighing machine was not very accurate, Eunice weighed 9.4kg! I was so happy.

Then, she had sore throat and went on antibiotics for 5 days. On that week, she couldn't eat well. She basically skipped porridge and drank little milk at babysitter's as well. She only wanted to be direct fed, and that also I won't know how much she's drinking.

But she recovered fast. After 4 days of antibiotics, she's eating her porridge again, and drinking as usual, and went for her first birthday party.

A week after her birthday, we brought her back to Island hospital for her 1st year old MMR jab. Dr Dan weighed her and told me she's now 9kg. I was shocked. This is the first time when her weight DIDN'T increase. I told Dr Dan that, and he checked his record and found that she was 9.1kg as per last weighed at her 10 months. Then only he found in the older records that she had fever and sore throat last month.

And he told me, "Oh, kids lost weight very fast... but don't worry 9kg is a very good weight for her...".

I didn't know that a child could lose weight THAT fast!

But anyway, I'm not complaining that she's thin. She's definitely not thin. She's chubby. I do think 9kg is a good weight. When my parents saw her, they commented that she's very small size, but is very fleshy! I guess she has my gene! Hehe...

Her height didn't increase for the past 2 months though. I think she's not going to be tall, since both her parents are not very tall. Not complaining as well, shorter girls can find boyfriend easier... Hehehe :)

My Eunice is ONE

Eunice is ONE already! How time flies.

I started planning for her birthday party 2 months before her birthday, looking around for cakes, venue and etc.

In the end, I had it in Strada cafe at Crystal Point. And I got this cake from Funbakez. I gave her the picture of Eunice's stacker with the duck on top, and requested the cake to be in yellow color. And viola, look at the cake. It's just lovely. Many came and asked me about the cake. And the price is very very reasonable too. :)

We had Eunice's birthday during CNY. So, it's rather rush for all the deco stuff. Hence, I kept it really simple. Only gotten some Happy birthday banners, and printed some of her pictures to put on the big windows in Strada Cafe. I got this idea to decorate her high chair while surfing for some birthday party ideas website. Look at the birthday girl. Isn't she sweet? :)


It was a buffet party. I asked for snack but it was actually quite a heavy snack - with fried rice, curry, sandwiches, sausages, nuggets, drinks, & salad. Many told me the food was nice. And since all the friends that we invited are mainly from church and they know each other well, they all had a great fellowship among themselves.

I was also very happy that Eunice was very well behaved that day. I guess she's excited. So excited that she didn't drink her milk at her normal 2pm feed, and she only had 1 1/2 pcs of her biscotti, and some water. And she didn't cry, didn't fuss, didn't get cranky, and didn't sleep as well. She could stay all well behaved from 1.45pm to almost 5pm! And almost everyone could carry her. I think she's just a happy girl that day.


I was very happy with the birthday party. In fact, Eunice might not even know anything about the party, but I felt that the party is mainly for the parents, esp me. I have been a mum for 1 year. And I have been breastfeeding for 1 year too. It's a celebration for me. It's definitely not an easy journey for me but I definitely enjoy all the moments to see my little one growing.

The party was simple. Nothing too fancy. No special agenda. Just eating, talking, laughing, cake cutting, end. :)

Euwing & Win Nee from my church did the below video for me. I think I have been watching it over and over again for almost hundred times. It's very nice. Simple and nice. Just full of love. I hope Eunice will also like it when I show her when she grows up next time.

Eunice's 1st Birthday from Euwing and Win Nee on Vimeo.

Now, my little girl has grown up. And I need to be more relax, and start to live some of my own life now.

First Antibiotic

Eunice has not been feeling well last week, I noticed. She had fever on and off. Having fever is never a good sign. It was low grade about 38.5 degrees and after paracetamol, it went down. Besides, she's eating very little. And at times, she won't eat at all. After a mouth she'll be crying with tears & mucus full of her face. Oh, she has running nose too.

We still sent her to babysitter. When I checked if she's alright on the day, babysitter told me she vomitted after the milk feed and rejected all solid. So, EG and I decided to bring her to hospital for a check in late evening.

During the check, Dr Hwang said she has throat infection. Her throat was red. So, she had to go on antibiotics.

ANTIOBIOTICS!

That word sounds illegal to me. Immediately I asked Dr Hwang why she needs to be on antiobiotics. She looked at me straight, explaining that antibiotics is good for babies as long as it's not abused, and added that "..for some cases, if you don't give antibiotics, babies can die u know...".

Ah... I told EG, after breastfeeding for so hard, Eunice still has to go on antibotics! :(

So, Eunice at 11 months 3 weeks had her very first antibiotics in her life. She has to go on antibiotics for 5 days and today is the 4th day. She's been much better now, though still don't want to eat porridge. But at least, she'll be well enough to attend her first birthday party this weekend! Yay!!

I guess my girl has grown up, and I shouldn't worry so much about her going on medication.

And I should now let her build up her own immunity.

First Walking Attempt

It's my bad that I didn't write much on my parenting blog. Work has been busy, with the little one getting more mobile at home, I'll use the time to blank my mind by surfing or watching tv when she's taking her nap. :)

Anyway, my little one is 11 months old now! She's turning 1 next month and yes, we're having a birthday celebration for her next month. Preparing her birthday party is even more excited than me preparing my own wedding. How ironic. :)...

I was just talking to my mum about Eunice last few days and she asked if Eunice now can walk. I told her No, and commented that her development now is a bit slow comparing to when she's younger. But no, I'm not getting stress out, I'm just going to let her slowly find her new abilities to surprise me.

And on Sunday morning, she's playing herself in the living room, and me washing up her bottles in the dry kitchen, and EG doing some cleaning in the wet kitchen. Suddenly I heard her shouting. I turned back, and saw her trying to push her rocking chair and walked a bit. And when she did that, she shouted again, with joy. Ahh... so cute.

So, later I gave her our laundry basket - which is just nice for her height. And she's happily cruising in around the house.



I didn't get any walker for her after reading up that walker might not be good for babies (actually want to save money also :P) , so I told EG maybe we need to get another laundry basket for ourselves since this one is going to be her walker now.



How fast my baby is growing. I am looking forward for the day when I can bring her to have a walk. :)

Yes, still doing full breastfeeding

Many are very surprised that Eunice is still an exclusively breastfed baby.

1. Enfamama called me up, and asked me if my baby is >6 months (I registered the info in their website). I said yes, and she asked what milk powder is your baby drinking? I said, breastmilk. And she responded with a very surprising tone:"Oh, still breastfeeding?" And I said yes. Next she said, OK you know breastfeeding mummies can drink Enfamama too. And I said yes I know. End of conversation. :)

2. Everytime I bring Eunice to her monthly checkup, Dr Dan will never fail to ask me what milk powder is your baby drinking now? And I always tell him, breastmilk. And everytime he'll reply:"Oh still breastfeeding? Very goood.."

3. My mum in law doesn't check on my milk stock anymore when she comes visit us. I think she's finally assured that I have enough supply for her granddaughter. And breastmilk is as nutritious as formula as it's advertised as her granddaughter is as chubby as the other babies, and has a very good weight. So good that sometimes she struggled to carry her well. :D

4. My mum still checks on my supply when we talk on the phone. Still asking if I have enough for Eunice. I told her yes because now she's on solid and I still pump 3 times a day. The next question is so when do I plan to stop. I told her I don't know yet I haven't planned. And she started to get worried about teething, biting, etc etc. And I told her, yeah yeah I know, and we'll cross the bridge when we come to it.

5. Some aunties that I met also very surprise that Eunice is still on breastmilk. I don't know where on the earth they heard that a mother can only produce breastmilk up to 4 months and it'll then slowly reduce to nothing. I'm been feeding & pumping for the past 9 months. And yes, sometimes the supply dropped and that's mainly due to my lack of sleep, but most of the time it has been maintained at 18oz-22oz a day.

Look at my cutie pie enjoying herself while suckling from mummy

When Eunice was admitted for high fever, she's spared from dripping because she drinks breastmilk. I thank God that I have endured so far.


I always encouraged my friends to continue breastfeeding no matter how hard the situation seems to be because I believe one day all these effort will pay off. I'm blessed with many breastfeeding moms around me and the encouragement and companionship to each other is a great motivation to keep me going on.


And as for me, my weight has gone back to my pre-preg weight even though I still eat like a cow. But many commented that I look thinner than last time (with bigger assets though :P). And I do notice that all my jeans are very loose now. But my tummy is still bulging.


Besides, my period has finally came back to me when Eunice hit her 8 months. I used to worry that my supply will be affected when my period is here but thank God it still maintains, maybe just slightly lesser but it's still more than what Eunice consume everyday.


So, when do I plan to stop? I don't know. I am used to wake up at 5.30am to pump everyday, and so used to lift up my shirt whenever my baby cries at night. Like I always tell EG, I've not been sleeping through any night ever since I become a mother. But I'm not complaining. One day I'll wean her off. The only thing that I look forward to after weaning is I can stop pumping. But I haven't planned the day yet.


We'll see. :)

Eunice's Tooth Chart

Though teething is not a very nice experience for all of us (but still manageable), but I'm nevertheless very happy that Eunice's teeth finally are coming out!! :)

Since Eunice is now teething, I'm going to update her tooth chart, just for fun!