Learning to use chopstick

during the new year eve lunch, HE attempted to use chopstick to pick up the cooked peanut to eat, and to my surprise, with adult size chopstick, she succeeded! Then I realized she was keen and ready to learn how to use a chopstick. Hence I opened up the toddler's chopstick I bought some time ago and let her try using it. Initially she was not quite used to master the skill to use the it, I taught her the proper way ( as above), but after a while, she went to her usual way ( as below) I kept trying. Then next day we went to a Grand Imperial Restaurant in Bangsar Shopping Centre to try the Wan Tan Mee with Char Siew that was highly recommended by my friend. I put some mee into HE plate and let her try to eat with her chopstick. By using the chopstick, she managed to eat the mee very well. Even my auntie also asked me where to get that chopstick. :). Now HE can eat her meal with chopstick, she even pick up vege for me and hubby. :)

Received a newsletter from Fabulousmom boutigue on breastfeeding campaign. The programme look interesting, but it could be too far for me to go. Actually I am more interested in getting some stuff for 15% discount. :)

Motherhood expo 2010

I am into 36 weeks pregnancy now, meaning I am into 39 weeks of pregnancy on the date of motherhood expo! Though I can be in labour ( or already laboured,ha!), I wish to get to go just in time to get some freebies and stuff at discounted price. Wish my little baby behave well. :) Not to mention that I also apply to attend a 3 day seminars in the same time as this expo!

HE preschool work

HE started preschool since last year November. I always wished to be able observe how she did at school but that's not possible, as kid would behave diffrently during parents presence. Hm...it would be good if every preschool had CCTV installed and allowed parents to observe their kids online.

One way to find out was through the work they did at school. When En brought the first artwork to me, I felt so proud. Although it was just a print of her palm, I am amazed the creativity of teacher. Below was the card she did for Halloween
Then, there was another one for Chinese New Year, along with the ABC and 123 work she brought home in a clear folder.

I am so looking forward to see there are new stuff in the her clear folder everyday after school to see her progress. :)

Increasing milk supply

I was once confirmed to have low milk supply, as judged from my first born slow weight gain, despite the adequate daily wet diapers and bowel outputs. When back to work, I also need to pump frequently day and night to make up the daily requirement. This time, I hope that I am able to have abundant milk supply, so that I won't be so stressed over the output(hopefully oversupply like my friend who can easily reach 10oz persession of 5 mins only!).

I found this http://www.lowmilksupply.org/pumping.shtml and got some tips. Here were the notes I got
"balancing active suckling time and pumping time to no longer than 45 mins in total"
"fit in 8 to 10 pumpings during waking hours"
"...pumping for additional stimulation...pump each breast for at least 10-15 mins..."
'....pump one breast while baby nurses from another...' (this was the method that I had adopted, though I was not sure if it increased the supply, but at least it was the most time saving method to keep milk stock and kept the stock sufficient throughout my BF journey with HE)

I found that many references just give advice on nurse frequently, let the baby lead the cue...pump after 'finish' feeding to extra stimulate the breast....but hardly advise on how long to pump. A book by G*** F*** suggestion on boosting milk supply is the most ridiculous suggestion. It does suggest frequent pumping too, but instead of suggesting the duration, the amount to be pumped is suggested, assuming all mothers have good production, not thoughtful that some mothers like me may take minimum 30-60mins just to get that pathetic 1oz!

Anyway, I plan to do more breast compression during first few days of birth, and start the tandem pumping when mature milk kick in or from second week onwards, hopefully that make me a mother with abundant supply.:P

Also, I will try to listen to music to keep myself relax. My loving hubby just bought me an iPOD which is just in time to keep me relax to pass through the early difficult days to establish milk supply and later pumping time while at work. :)

Strawberry bread vs Chocolate

This morning I tried to put wholemeal bread with HE's favourite strawberry jam, hoping that she would take wholemeal bread. She took one bite, and then just lick the strawberry jam, to my disappointment. In order to make her eat more, I did the usual way, break a small portion and feed her. She took.....but it stayed in her mouth but not down the throat.

She went to fridge and spotted the chocolate given by my auntie from K. kangsar. Then she kept going to and fro between me and hubby, hinting she wanted to spit. Of course we refused. At last resort, she spitted on her hand.
My tempered was really up, rightaway I grabbed both the chocolate and the spitted bread from her hands. She cried, as expected, and I let her.
Me :" I asked you to finish the bread, then only chocolate, why do you have to spit it? now your hand is dirty. the floor is dirty!"
HE: (crying)
Me :" You finish the bread then chocolate, ok? tell me, ok?
HE: (still crying)

I made her take the tissue to clean the spitte bread on the floor. She did and also stop crying.
I make her promise again but she refuse to say yes nor nod her head. Just as I was almost give in

Me :" Ok, you finish the chocolate then bread ok?"
HE : (nodded slightly)

As I opened the 'tupperware'...to my surprise, she took the small piece of bread and put into her mouth, before asking to hold the chocolate in her hands. This time, she finished the bread (though just that small piece) before eating the chocolate.

I was glad that I insisted. and even pleased that HE listen and understood. Though I expect that there would food battle with this fussy eater still. At least this time it worked.

My CNY Holidays-1st day

Despite a tired day out yesterday, HE waked me up at 8am with her big round eye looking at me, asking me to open my eyes. ( Oh no!)

We had dried meat for breakfast. Just as we prepared ourselves for Dim Sum branch, HE kept complaining pain at her buttock, I suspected she need to go to poo. I was right as I found some 'residue' at her pant. As she had been complaining since the night before, I got worried that the stool might be hardening hence causing the pain. So hubby and I tried to make her sit at the toilet bowl to poo with lots of persuasion, singing...reading...even video...but failed, she cried and refused to continue sitting. I run out of choice but to take out the long unused potty for her to sit on in the living hall. To my surprise and dismay (in dilemma), in seconds, she pooed. sigh...my fussy and choosy daughter... Anyway I felt relief as I had this concern of constipation that could lead to something worse.

We managed to go out at 11 plus to catch Dim Sum at Sri Petaling. The dim sum were nice, much better than the highly recommended Jin Xuan Dim Sum at Kuchai Lama. However, HE's appetite remained small.

We went for the one and only house available on that day to visit, around 1.30pm. Before that, we got to watch Lion Dance which kept HE excited.:)

We were at home around 4pm, took a nap and had home-cooked meal (by me) around 8pm. Around 9pm, my hubby's friends drop by. HE initially was pretty quiet ( as usual with stranger)but she allowed the little boy do the colouring with her. Later, things were a bit warmed up when she started to bring books to little kor kor to read to her, keeping her mouth shut still (sigh...).

We all had a good time chatting and had wines ( except me) till 11+, as hubby friend's was leaving, HE even let the little Kor Kor to have good bye hug. However, as he gave her goodbye kiss, rightaway HE tried to wipe her face and even run to toilet to wash her face! That's was so cute! and I was surprised at HE spontaneous reaction. All thr grown-ups had good laugh at the scene.

It was a pretty good day.