...
Connor has been eating "solids" - if you can call mush a solid - for about two weeks now. We started with a sample packet of Heinz rice cereal which we received free from Heinz. We also had a Nestle sample, which seemed sweeter than the Heinz, so I have since purchased a box of Heinz Organic Wheat cereal. This is non-sweetened so it was even better. Connor has also eaten brown rice porridge which I pureed the heck out of, and froze them "plop" method - spooned the porridge onto wax paper and froze them (read this in a book). Connor isn't a big fan of that one, as it's quite bland, so I mix it with apple sauce and he's OK with that. Connor has also tried pureed carrots and avocado - he wasn't that happy with those either.
Here's a video of Connor having some white rice porridge yesterday. He didn't seem to mind it that much. The porridge consistency was thicker but there were still chunks of rice in it, which he wasn't used to.
I decided to try posting the videos to YouTube now, and embed the video into the blog. The quality seems much better.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Six months old update
...
Wow, I just noticed that my last post was on January 10th! Boy I am so behind!
Connor is now more than 6 months old and has started solids! Such fun, such fun. Such messes!
I started him on rice cereal - some freebie packets I received from Heinz and Nestle. Ended up buying a box of Heinz because it was less sweet. I also made some brown rice porridge which I then pureed. Connor isn't liking that as much, probably because it is not sweet.
Today I tried giving him some pureed carrots. He seemed to like but I think he doesn't like the texture of it all that much. It will take some time, it seems, for him to get used less liquidy textures.
Sleeping update - we've set up Connor's bed and I have been sleeping with him in his room. This has been working out good, he doesn't seem to know the difference as long as I'm there with him. One significant improvement to this setup so far is that for his daytime naps, he has been sleeping super well in that bed - for up to 2+ hours at a time! He does wake up and cry for some BF or a soother works sometimes too, but once pacified he just goes back to sleep.
Wow, I just noticed that my last post was on January 10th! Boy I am so behind!
Connor is now more than 6 months old and has started solids! Such fun, such fun. Such messes!
I started him on rice cereal - some freebie packets I received from Heinz and Nestle. Ended up buying a box of Heinz because it was less sweet. I also made some brown rice porridge which I then pureed. Connor isn't liking that as much, probably because it is not sweet.
Today I tried giving him some pureed carrots. He seemed to like but I think he doesn't like the texture of it all that much. It will take some time, it seems, for him to get used less liquidy textures.
Here's a video of Connor eating...
Sleeping update - we've set up Connor's bed and I have been sleeping with him in his room. This has been working out good, he doesn't seem to know the difference as long as I'm there with him. One significant improvement to this setup so far is that for his daytime naps, he has been sleeping super well in that bed - for up to 2+ hours at a time! He does wake up and cry for some BF or a soother works sometimes too, but once pacified he just goes back to sleep.
Out like a light!
Here's how we have the bed set up. I bought a bed rail.
However I haven't been using it lately,
|since Connor doesn't roll around just yet.
However I haven't been using it lately,
|since Connor doesn't roll around just yet.
Happy Chinese New Year - Year of the Ox
...
Gung Hay Fat Choy! We've had a busy Chinese New Year!
Grandma Kwok spent her first ever Chinese New Year in Canada. We had a pre-New Year's dinner last Friday. Then we all went to her place on New Year's (Monday Jan 26) for lunch and dinner. Then yesterday we went out for dinner again, because we had Uncle 4's family visiting.
In this pic here we were having dinner on Friday. We went to the Kirin at Starlight Casino.
Connor ended up with lots and lots of lucky lai see packets!
We are all exhausted though from all this eating out!
Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous 2009!
Gung Hay Fat Choy! We've had a busy Chinese New Year!
Grandma Kwok spent her first ever Chinese New Year in Canada. We had a pre-New Year's dinner last Friday. Then we all went to her place on New Year's (Monday Jan 26) for lunch and dinner. Then yesterday we went out for dinner again, because we had Uncle 4's family visiting.
In this pic here we were having dinner on Friday. We went to the Kirin at Starlight Casino.
Connor ended up with lots and lots of lucky lai see packets!
We are all exhausted though from all this eating out!
Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous 2009!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Splish splash
...
Splish splash I was taking a bath! I love my baths. Mommy always sings to me in the bath, since I first took baths she would sing "Clean Clean Clean" to the tune of "Chain Chain Chain." The singing used to help calm me down. Now I don't really need the singing but I like it when she does. I know I'm getting a bath when I hear the tune.
Today Daddy gave me my bath. Look at me sitting like a prince in my tub. I can sit up pretty good in the tub now - just have to make sure I'm sitting on a towel so that I don't go sliding all over the place. I can grasp the sides of the tub really well too. They like to keep me sitting up now because if I'm lying in the tub I like to kick my legs and really make some big splashes - someone ends up all wet besides me!
Splish splash I was taking a bath! I love my baths. Mommy always sings to me in the bath, since I first took baths she would sing "Clean Clean Clean" to the tune of "Chain Chain Chain." The singing used to help calm me down. Now I don't really need the singing but I like it when she does. I know I'm getting a bath when I hear the tune.
Today Daddy gave me my bath. Look at me sitting like a prince in my tub. I can sit up pretty good in the tub now - just have to make sure I'm sitting on a towel so that I don't go sliding all over the place. I can grasp the sides of the tub really well too. They like to keep me sitting up now because if I'm lying in the tub I like to kick my legs and really make some big splashes - someone ends up all wet besides me!
Rubber ducky, you're the one... ducky is from Auntie Emily.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Dec 2008 Recalls
...
Wow, so many recalls in December 2008!
List of children's items from the Health Canada Consumer Product Safety site.
...
Wow, so many recalls in December 2008!
List of children's items from the Health Canada Consumer Product Safety site.
...
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Connor enjoying his bottle
...
Connor's sudden spurt in awareness and mobility continues. He's been touching our faces, has better hand dexterity and can reach for smaller items. If you are not careful during a meal, he'll grab your plate or bowl from you!
He recognizes bottles of milk and gets excited when he sees it (when hungry) (and not to say that it's replaced the real thing!!). He seems to enjoy being able to hold the bottle himself, too. See this video of him and his bottle.
Connor's sudden spurt in awareness and mobility continues. He's been touching our faces, has better hand dexterity and can reach for smaller items. If you are not careful during a meal, he'll grab your plate or bowl from you!
He recognizes bottles of milk and gets excited when he sees it (when hungry) (and not to say that it's replaced the real thing!!). He seems to enjoy being able to hold the bottle himself, too. See this video of him and his bottle.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Sleeping
...
Like father like son...
Like father like son...
Yes, Connor is still co-sleeping with us. Oscar also sleeps in our bed - he usually sleeps around my legs. It is not recommended to have pets sleep with babies but Oscar is totally harmless (he's so chicken anyways). Connor is getting bigger now, of course, and so it's getting a bit crowded.
I have a new sleeping plan. I will set up a twin bed in Connor's room and start sleeping in there with him, and eventually start sneaking off to my own bed once he's asleep. I've ordered a bed rail online from Babies R Us. Once it arrives, I'll get started on making the changes for the sleeping arrangements.
Lots of changes for Connor this month is in store... he'll start solids mid-month as he will be 6 months old.
I have a new sleeping plan. I will set up a twin bed in Connor's room and start sleeping in there with him, and eventually start sneaking off to my own bed once he's asleep. I've ordered a bed rail online from Babies R Us. Once it arrives, I'll get started on making the changes for the sleeping arrangements.
Lots of changes for Connor this month is in store... he'll start solids mid-month as he will be 6 months old.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Developmental improvements at 5+ months
...
Happy New Year everyone!
We went to a friend's house for New Year's Eve and we dressed Connor up in a collared shirt and these cute slacks from GAP that Daddy bought him. The slacks were a big hit! Unfortunately Connor fussed the entire time we were there - he just couldn't handle all the people and the noise I suppose, since we've been holed up at home with the snow. We went home by 9pm and were in bed at midnight. Such party animals, eh?
On January 1st we went out for New Year's dim sum with the family, and dressed Connor up again. He fussed again like the night before. SCREECHING at the top of his lungs. I can't imagine if we were on a plane, it would be so so horrible. We'll have to take him out more, to get him used to crowds, once the snow stops. Linds took him out of the restaurant to a nearby Shoppers Drug Mart and Connor was fine the entire time, so it must be the crowd and the noise.
Connor can sit up better every day (he's now 5 months and almost 3 weeks old)! The past couple of weeks Connor has shown major improvements with his cognitive abilities and motor skills. He seems to recognize his name (he turns toward you when his name is called), he is enjoying jumping in his Jolly Jumper, he is playing more with his toys with both hands. I observed him trying to control his hand to place a teething ring into his mouth. And he's trying hard with the consonants ("b"). He's able to spit out a "beh" on occasion (and I do mean spit - he's spraying it!). The only thing he doesn't do is roll over from back to front. Could be because he's such a chunky monkey (I read that somewhere, that chunky babies may have a harder time with that).
Tonight he even seemed to recognize the word NO! He was crying at dinner and I said NO very firmly a few times and he stopped crying and stared at me. This worked a couple of times and then he started wailing. He was hungry. Bad Mommy...
There's a good checklist of developmental checklist on Babyzone.
Here are Connor and Oscar sitting side by side.
My handsome guys!
Styling in his cool slacks!!
On a sour note, someone hit the rear of my car while it was parked (hit and run)!!! :( Not a good financial beginning to the year.
Monday, December 29, 2008
A memorable 2008 Christmas!
...
What a memorable 2008 Christmas it's been here in Vancouver! Words can hardly express what a wonderful delight it has been to have baby Connor join the family this year. Christmas is now so much more special to Linds and me because of Connor.
We've had the most snow possibly ever this Christmas in Vancouver. On Christmas Day, we had a small family gathering with the Paus (Gung Gung's sister's family) at our place and enjoyed turkey, stuffing and lots of other goodies. Linds put on a roaring fire which made the place warm and cozy. After dinner we played games on the Wii and the elders gambled "Fish, Shrimp, Crab" - Linds learned how to play it too!
Also very special this Christmas, Andrew and Cindy are about 6 months along with their pregnancy now. And then at dinner Francis and Sally announced that they are 2 months pregnant! We are so very happy for them all! This means that next Christmas there will be 3 babies!
What a memorable 2008 Christmas it's been here in Vancouver! Words can hardly express what a wonderful delight it has been to have baby Connor join the family this year. Christmas is now so much more special to Linds and me because of Connor.
We've had the most snow possibly ever this Christmas in Vancouver. On Christmas Day, we had a small family gathering with the Paus (Gung Gung's sister's family) at our place and enjoyed turkey, stuffing and lots of other goodies. Linds put on a roaring fire which made the place warm and cozy. After dinner we played games on the Wii and the elders gambled "Fish, Shrimp, Crab" - Linds learned how to play it too!
Also very special this Christmas, Andrew and Cindy are about 6 months along with their pregnancy now. And then at dinner Francis and Sally announced that they are 2 months pregnant! We are so very happy for them all! This means that next Christmas there will be 3 babies!
Playing "Fish, Shrimp, Crab"
With the end of 2008, and Connor almost 6 months old, I thought I would list some things I will love to remember about caring for Connor.- Those first days in the hospital - how tiny he was! How soft his skin, with the downy lanugo (newborn hair) on his back! How totally dependent he was on us!
- The sweet scent of baby Connor's breath.
- Connor's silky skin: his soft chubby little fingers, the back of his neck.
- Connor babbling in the morning when he wakes up: aaaaeeeeeee oooooooh aaaaaaaeeeee
- One time Linds was holding a naked Connor, getting ready for a bath, and Connor started to wee wee all over the bathroom but Linds didn't know it.
- His first fever (from the 4 months shots)... he was so helpless... his feverish little body, sleeping in my arms.
- Connor sleeping in my arms with his mouth open.
- The first time that Connor pursed his lips together and blowing, trying to make a "b" sound (this started yesterday... we think that's what he's trying to do; I read that babies start making sounds with consonant at 6 months, like "bababababa" or "mamamamama").
- His beautiful down-like head of hair slowly growing in.
- Connor's long eyelashes.
- Nursing Connor in bed.
- He's brought the family closer.
Our little baby... getting bigger so fast!
My First Christmas!
...
It sure has been an exciting month! And it's almost over already!
On Christmas Eve we had dinner with Po Po and Gung Gung. Mom made Pork Wellington and they all drank Crown Royal and Red Wine (well, light on the Crown Royal and wine for Mommy since she is still nursing me). I can't wait to try some of that! We also had another family dinner on Christmas Day with Aunt Rose's family.
It sure has been an exciting month! And it's almost over already!
On Christmas Eve we had dinner with Po Po and Gung Gung. Mom made Pork Wellington and they all drank Crown Royal and Red Wine (well, light on the Crown Royal and wine for Mommy since she is still nursing me). I can't wait to try some of that! We also had another family dinner on Christmas Day with Aunt Rose's family.
On Christmas Day, we opened presents! Here is a video of me opening the stocking from Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Brian (Yeh Yeh and Mah Mah). Check it out, I'm sitting in one of those Bumbo seats - the twins lent the chair to me (that's why it's lilac - yuchy girl colour!). It's neat, I can sit up by myself for a lot longer in this chair.
And in this video, Mommy and Daddy cheer me on
while I open this present myself...
I received lots of gifts: clothes, bibs, rattles, books, feeding dishes... but I think my favourite is the Baby Einstein play mat. It's got lots of rattles hanging from it as well as a mirror and a musical toy. Here's a video of me below enjoying the play mat.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Connor at 5 months young
...
Connor is becoming quite the chunky monkey! His thighs are 10" around - check out the photo below and look at his legs! We also started cloth diapering this week (not exclusively though, we are still using disposables through the night and as necessary. In the photo below he is wearing one of his cloth diapers). Connor can now be on his tummy without much fuss, and he will turn over from that position most of the time as well.
Connor's legs have always been a bit rough all over, but lately they started getting really dry and I think they were starting to chap as part of his thigh was getting reddish. It is strange why only his legs are like this, and I was worrying that it may be eczema. To try to address his skin problem I tried Aveeno Soothing Relief Moisture Cream, which claims it works for "infants or babies with extra dry, itchy skin, even dry skin from eczema." Amazingly, there appeared to be improvement the very next day, and now we are on day three and parts of his legs are feeling baby soft again!
Connor is becoming quite the chunky monkey! His thighs are 10" around - check out the photo below and look at his legs! We also started cloth diapering this week (not exclusively though, we are still using disposables through the night and as necessary. In the photo below he is wearing one of his cloth diapers). Connor can now be on his tummy without much fuss, and he will turn over from that position most of the time as well.
Connor's legs have always been a bit rough all over, but lately they started getting really dry and I think they were starting to chap as part of his thigh was getting reddish. It is strange why only his legs are like this, and I was worrying that it may be eczema. To try to address his skin problem I tried Aveeno Soothing Relief Moisture Cream, which claims it works for "infants or babies with extra dry, itchy skin, even dry skin from eczema." Amazingly, there appeared to be improvement the very next day, and now we are on day three and parts of his legs are feeling baby soft again!
Last week Connor sucked on his lower lip a lot - don't know why! He looks so cute doing that though, ha ha. Here he is doing that!
Connor has not been sleeping early anymore. Lately he won't fall asleep until 10:30 PM, and will sleep until about 8:30 AM (with a few feedings in between). He is still sleeping in our bed, so the feedings are not a problem for me. And Connor basically gets up when I get up. I wonder if his late sleeping is because we don't usually sleep until that time as well. I am still reading up on this matter of sleep - who knew that it would be such a big issue to deal with! At this point I want to continue co-sleeping with Connor because it is easier for me, but also according to "attachment parenting" advocates (a term coined by Dr. William Sears, a famous present-day pediatrician and author; very anti-Ferber), a much better bond and trust is formed with the baby. Attachment parenting stresses the importance of being with your baby through methods such as co-sleeping and baby wearing. Basically we have been "attachment parenting" without knowing it!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
I'm getting stronger
...
I am now able to sit up for short durations all by myself! I've been doing so for a couple of weeks now.
Yesterday I finally was able to roll over by myself (from tummy to my back)! I've rolled over a few more times since. Mommy is so relieved, as I'm now practically 5 months old. She was getting worried, and even went researching this online before I finally turned over. Apparently there is a huge time frame of when turning over can happen - it could be at 3 months or even up to 7 months. If at 12 months a baby has not yet turned over then a doctor should definitely be consulted. The more tummy time though the better.
I am now able to sit up for short durations all by myself! I've been doing so for a couple of weeks now.
Yesterday I finally was able to roll over by myself (from tummy to my back)! I've rolled over a few more times since. Mommy is so relieved, as I'm now practically 5 months old. She was getting worried, and even went researching this online before I finally turned over. Apparently there is a huge time frame of when turning over can happen - it could be at 3 months or even up to 7 months. If at 12 months a baby has not yet turned over then a doctor should definitely be consulted. The more tummy time though the better.
Here's me - one of the first times I've been sitting up by myself!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Watch out for those socks!
...
Last night from around 6pm onwards, Connor was fussy right up to bedtime (around 9pm). I couldn't figure out what was wrong... and then I noticed he still had his tight little blue socks around his chubby feet and ankles. As soon as I took them off he was all smiles and nursed blissfully to sleep!
I have a bunch of stuff I've been wanting to blog about but it's been hard to make time to do it with Christmas shopping, putting up the tree, and the family being sick. Topics include cloth diapering - which I just started trying out yesterday; increasing milk supply, plantar fasciitis, wrist pain, and the ongoing sleep training. Will try to blog these soon.
Last night from around 6pm onwards, Connor was fussy right up to bedtime (around 9pm). I couldn't figure out what was wrong... and then I noticed he still had his tight little blue socks around his chubby feet and ankles. As soon as I took them off he was all smiles and nursed blissfully to sleep!
I have a bunch of stuff I've been wanting to blog about but it's been hard to make time to do it with Christmas shopping, putting up the tree, and the family being sick. Topics include cloth diapering - which I just started trying out yesterday; increasing milk supply, plantar fasciitis, wrist pain, and the ongoing sleep training. Will try to blog these soon.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Noteworthy Family Recalls of 2008/ 2007: Check your home for these recalled baby and kid products
...
Here's a good list of recalls from Babyzone.com ... the list includes photos of each product.
Having kids means buying stuff—toys, furniture, clothing, medicine, and more. But sometimes that stuff is later deemed unsafe by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the nation's resource for protecting families against unsafe pr
It Happened to Me: Accident Survival Stories
...
These stories are scary for Mommies !!
Spills, falls, and other accidents are all a part of parenting. Share your safety stories to help make other parents aware of what could happen so they can keep their children safe.
