Sleeping Through The Night

As little babies, Bevan and Berton are different in many ways. A significant one – while Bevan slept through the nights since 1mo, Berton is 10mo and still waking up. It’s our fault.

Because the secret (or no secret) to train babies sleep through the night, are

1. Let babies cry a bit longer before attending to him
2. Feed expressed milk or formula milk at night. Suckling is too comforting

BUT. I carry Berton at his slightest whine, and direct nurse him immediately. So that Bevan does not get awaken.

Friday night, I had stuffy nose, finished work, grocery shopping, put 2 kids to bed, and started pureeing food. Berton cried, I ran in to the room fed for 10 minutes, came out and continue pureed food production. He cried again, I ran in again. I thought this. had. to. stop.

I carried him to the guest room, and let him cry it out.

He cried for almost 1 hour. Heartbrokenly, I surrendered. I carried him to our bed at 230am and direct nursed him. He suckled and sobbed at the same time. Fell asleep in 10 minutes. I swear to myself I will direct nurse him for as long as he wants, as often as he likes. I know I will miss direct feeding him once he’s stopped.

But guess what? He slept through the past 2 nights. So the 1 session of cry-it-out works?! If only I knew it earlier.

Hubby's Birthday

It's hubby's birthday, I helped Bevan design a birthday card, interviewed Bevan on how well he knows about Daddy, and jotted them down on the birthday card. (Inspired by this)

What’s Daddy’s name?
Leslie Koh

How old is Daddy?
2 years old. Same like Bevan!

What does Daddy likes to eat?
Noodle.

What color does Daddy like?
Green one.

What’s Daddy’s favorite drink?
Barley and soya bean.

What’s Daddy’s favorite attire?
??

What does daddy likes to wear?
Piglet... (we have no idea how he got his)

What’s Daddy’s job?
??

Daddy work as a ...?
Daddy work as a pen.

Do you love Daddy?
Yes!

Why?
Because I love Daddy!!

Why do you love Daddy?
Because Leslie Koh Daddy is 2 years old!

Dream Maid?

It was not intentional, it didn’t show on the biodata, but it's quite good news for bimbotic reasons - Bridgette was a manicurist from The Philippines. I’m happy to have my manicure and pedicure done at home every week, and she’s happy to have a vainpot employer to showcase her expertise.

I felt so justified for cooking everyday. My friends are saying (and screaming) that she's their dream maid.

My Little Artist

Bevan has been drawing circles and lines for months.

But this time he drew a circle, made sure the starting and ending points connect, and then drew a vertical line below, and said "Mommy, see Bevan draws balloon! See Mommy! Balloon balloon!"

He drew a lot and a lot more balloons, positioned them in bunches quite neatly. And then he drew an elongated oval and called it banana. Is it me or the balloons, my little baby has grown a bit more. Motherhood makes me emotional.

Truly Happy For Someone

Its 11pm, the kids were asleep. I was browsing the internet, hubby's watching American Idol. I heard thunderous happy cheers from the TV. Apparently a girl sang well, and all three judges said yes and

"Welcome to Hollywood!"

All her friends clap and cheer, and clap and cheer louder, and clap and cheers till they fell on the floor, and clap and cheer till they climbed on each other, and clap and cheer till they cry.

"You know there is something amazing about this country. It's that you are truly, genuinely, happy when someone else does well. It's a.maz.ing." Simon said.

Paula and Randy didn't know what this grumpy Englishman was talking about.

But we know what Simon is talking about. That's so adorable Americans. I was so touched.

Update - Berton

Berton - 9 months 29 days

It's true that the younger one at home is always treated like a baby. I can never treat Berton like a 10-month-old. He is still my little baby. I still tell people "I have a newborn, he is 10 months old".

Berton continues to impress us with his speed and strength. I cook big bowls of congee and he finishes them. He calls mama, ball, balloon (booloon), dada, baba, pooh (for pooh bear), nana (we couldn't figure out what nana is). He knows his toes, claps, blows, and waves alot, signs twinkle twinkle, points at "Clarity" signboard, flower. He pretends to cry, counts his fingers when we say "counts". He shakes when we say "dance". It is extremely entertaining.

Lastly, get ready to clap for me - I still fully breastfeed Berton. That means I have been waking up every 3 hours for the past 10 months. Extra expressed milk goes to Bevan. *Clap*

Update - Bevan

27 months 30 days

Bevan is now almost fully conversational. It's really useful, he helps pass messages around, and tells me what happened when I was not with him. Like "popo fed me chilli", "Auntie Bridgette pulled off my nails, not cut, got blood", and "Bevan bully Berton just now, Didi cry like 小老鼠".

(Eversince he knows the chinese rhyme of 小老鼠偷油吃 who eventually 掉下来. Anyone who cry, is a 小老鼠. I call it a boy thing.)

This is how much he loves me.

Mom: *Sneeze* Mommy cold cold.
Bevan: *Turning off the car aircon* Turn off aircon, mommy!

The bad thing is, it's very hard to convince him to turn on the aircon.

Overdue Xmas Eve Post

It's really special this year. My parents - who don't celebrate x'mas, join my in-laws - who celebrate x'mas like chinese new year, at our home. We all gathered around my first decent-sized, not-from-199-shop x'mas tree. It was a sweet one with lots of singing, lots of gifts, lots of food and lot's of love.

KL - My Second Home

Used to be my first 17 years ago.

2007 - 2008

2007 Gave birth to Berton. Sent Bevan to playgroup. Started cooking for a family of 6 everyday. Celebrated 3rd wedding anniversary. Moved from getting-used-to-each-other to working-well-with-each-other. Commencement of a permanent post-natal backache. Reduced occurrence of headache by taking painkiller, quick. Enjoyed more than tripled profits growth.

I have been so blessed. I am so so so thankful.

2008 Laugh more. Slow down. Drink warm water. Keep kids home. Bring business home. Love my hubby. Love my friends. Love my dad. Take nicer pictures. Put lotion on my hands. Show kind-heartedness. Step back to basics.