Cheeks to Cheeks

I’m at beautiful Montreal but I don’t feel like sight-seeing. The red-eye flight just killed my enthusiasm.

I’m dead tired and had just finished pumping. Highly recommend Medela’s Harmony hand pump IF you’re considering getting one.

Oh, I pumped while on the plane too and it was an o-kay experience. I pumped 3 oz just to relieve the engorged breasts. Even though it was only 3 oz, I contemplated. Yes, the idea of drinking the milk did cross my mind. The verdict?

I can’t bear the thought of wasting the milk (after pumping like crazy ‘cos the seat belt sign was still on) AND I was hungry. So I drank it. Yea, yea, yea…some of you will say “eiuwww”. Heck, if Belle drinks it, so can I, right?

Now in front of me is 5 oz of expressed milk. Should I???

We’ve been waiting for this day and Belle didn’t fail us.

When comes to doing #2 (pooping) Belle has been potty trained since she was 2 months old. She has been diligently held over the potty twice a day: once in the morning and once around 6pm. True to Pavlov’s theory, the girl poops when she’s on the potty.

Ever since we started her on solids, her bowel movement changed. We had a difficult time coaxing her during her #2 sessions. So, we just let it be and she can go without one for 2 days in a row.

Baby with no poop = gas of death

This girl has the smelliest of the smelliest fart. Everytime she sleeps with us and happen to lay one, I can pengsan (faint) from unveiling the blanket.

So, I told myself today, “I’ve gotta keep the regimen going or else we will have to buy gas masks.”

At 6pm, I plopped her down on the potty.

Vien: “ngm ngmmm, ngm ngmmm” (repetitive)

10 mins later…

Belle: whine
Vien: “Okay, fine. You don’t want to poo poo? We will try after your mumm mumm (food).

At 8pm after food fight we tried again. This time I held her over the potty.

Vien: “ngm ngmmm, ngm ngmmm” (repetive)

10 mins later…

Belle: whine
Vien: No baby, you gotta try
Belle: whine louder

I bounced her a bit. She got distracted and stopped whinning.

5 mins later…

Belle: phhhhhtttt
Vien: Dang baby, that is so stinky!

Then it happened.

Belle scrunched up her face.

With a strong push, I heard a “plop“.

I looked into the potty.

It is in form!

I got excited.

Vien: Daddy…daddy…come and look!
Jon: Wah seh! (yes, the hubby has learned to speak M’sian) Wait, I go get the camera.

So, folks, you have it there. This is the first for us and we wish to share it with everyone. Don’t worry, I’ll spare you from viewing the photos Jon took.

This came in mind while I was folding Belle’s clothes.

What kinda clothes should all New Parents need?

HMD
If you friends or relatives shoving give you hand-me-downs, TAKE IT.
- My take is, HMD are F.R.E.E, babies grow out of clothes within weeks and HMD are much softer as they have been worn in.

If you really insist on getting only NEW stuff for your precious one:

Kimono shirt (8 pieces)
This will last you till, well, around 5 months. When the baby starts to move a lot like rolling or flailing their arms crazily, it’s time to move on to shirts with buttons.
- Long sleeves for winter babies, short for summer.
- First 3 months, get long sleeve shirts that come with hand covers. It is a flap that is attached on the opening of the sleeve. Just pull the flaps over and the baby’s hands will stay warm and toasty.

Shirt (6 pieces)
Not necessary until the baby has more control of his/her head.
- If you want some “going-out” shirts, get bodysuits.

Pants (8 pairs)
If possible, get those that have booties attached.

Coveralls (4 pieces)
Great for dads who aren’t familiar to toting a baby around. They don’t have to fret with shirts riding up while carrying the little one.
- Get those that have booties sewn on.

Mittens (6-8 pairs)
Newborn nails can be long and some new parents are afraid to cut ‘em. This will prevent them from scratching their beautiful faces.

Socks (6-8 pairs)
Not necessary until the baby is about 3 months old.

Booties (6 pairs)
Buy ‘em if you can’t get pants that has booties sewn on.

Cap (2 pieces)
This applies only for winter babies.

I think this should cover it when comes to clothes. Other mommies, feel free to add on to the list.

Tix to Santa Ana – checked
Car rental – checked
Business cards – checked
Marketing materials – checked

Tix to Montreal – checked
Hotel reservation – checked
Business cards – checked
Canadian dollars – checked

It is gonna be a long dreadful week ahead of me. *sigh*

I’d just finish reading blogs from Zara’s Mama, Mumsgather, Mamabok, LinPeh & Jomel. We have a fellow blogger, SCB(Lisa), who has been in a coma since April 8th.

I get bumped out easily when I hear such heart wrenching news. I don’t know SCB(Lisa) personally but I do read her blog. Her blog entries at times let me realise there is a funnier side in life. Sometimes when I’m in the pits, I would go to her blog and read her old entries just for a good laugh.

Let’s all send a silent prayer to her and her family. Mamabok has organized a silent prayer at these hours: 19th April 2006 – 2am (Canada), 19th April 2006 – 1pm (M’sia).

I’ll say mine at 18th April 2006 – 10pm (Calif PST).

“Among the children, those infants with at least one parent who was a habitual snorer were almost three times as likely to snore frequently than those with no parental history of snoring.”

- BabyCenter

Now I have a valid reason to blame my dad. Belle can start blaming her daddy too.

I used to have a pet Chinchilla. It has the world’s softest fur. No wonder they hunt these critters for their fur but that’s a topic I can go on and on (Just don’t buy Fur).

Aaanyway, that’s not the reason for today’s blog entry. This Chinchilla of mine lived in a cage. Occassionally, he would roll like a turbine in his dust bowl and whenever he was thirsty, he would stand on his hind feet and smacker away from the water spout. And he is always sucking on that water spout.

Last night I was lying on the bed and my pet Chin Chin just popped into my head. I said to myself, “Hey, I’ve become Belle’s water spout.”

Every night we would put Belle into her cot but she would end up co-sleeping with us. She would suckle whenever she’s hungry or when she needed “confirmation” of my existence.

Sometimes I would be too tired to stay awake. I would just turn to Belle, arch my poor back, plop my breast next to her and snore away. My girl has learn to turn her head towards the breast when she wants a suckle, turns away when she’s done with it and goes back to it when she wants to suckle again.

Like a water/milk spout, I’m ever ready for this princess. One of my boobs is always exposed and I don’t give a hoot. I’m tired and she’s okay with this arrangement. We will just leave it as it is.

The husband finds it funny but I feel used. I guess this is an addendum to Motherhood .

I’m glad I’m not at U of I now. Read here.

As months passed, I find Belle to be more and more attached to my boobs. Nowadays, she refused to sleep unless she has a suck first. The paed has warned me not to give in to this habit but it’s tough not to do so.

I’ve tried letting her cry it out but this girl can cry forever.

I’ve tried rocking her, swinging her or swaddling her.

I’ve tried sleeping next to her and sang her lullabies.

Only one thing works:
Stuffed her chubby face into my boobs. Just joking. Basically, just console her by letting her feed on the chi-chis.

Any moms out there who have better ideas?

Aiya! I forgot about my sister’s birthday on Apr 10th. Wai, if you read this, I’m so so sorry that I totally forgot about it. I’ll make it up to you. What do you want? More Maggi Mee mail to you? Hehe…