Frustrated with your baby or toddler not eating vegetables?

Welcome aboard motherhood! Long before I become a mom, I love kids (Dont get me wrong,I still love them.. please read on :), get along well with them and even play like a kid.. I still do:) I have a brother who is 14 years younger than me, so I had a fair share of 'mothering' my younger brother. But but.. nothing of that sort of experience will ever get you ready for MOTHERHOOD! As a first time mother, I guess any new mom, in fact, will be overwhelm by the first born. Immediately after birth, we are thrown into the very first issue that will pretty much bother us for a loong loong time, 'feeding the baby'! Initially was the troubles and challenges of breastfeeding.. then after I got the hang of it and started to enjoy it, it's time for solids! If you have a baby who just have no problem with food, eat whatever that is placed in front of him, loves greens, veges and fruit. You are very blessed! At about 8-12mths, Tristan was an angel! He loves anything placed in front of him, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Banana..etc. I thought I was lucky and blessed. But but... didnt last very long. So for those of you who are currently blessed... it may not last very long, so enjoy it while you can! The only vege he loves now is Carrot, so if he is starting to look orange more and more, it's probably because of the carrot. Well at least he loves carrot for the moment. I am trying to chop up the other vege and feed him, sometimes it works, sometime 'my little monster' just refuse! Talk about frustrations. Never knew I will be so worried about his food. Soooooooo... What should you do with a picky eater? How to make him eat vege and fruits? Before we jump into it, I will just like to point out something which I just learnt. ------------------------------------------------- Taken from La Leche League International: The Breastfeeding Answer Book 2007 0-6 months: Medical Scientist agree that human milk is nature's complete food for ar least the first six months for the healthy, full-term infant, and significant disadvantages have been found to introducing other food before that time. It used to be around 4-6 months of age, but it now reccomended by American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organsization to delay introducing solids for a full six months(2001). Advatages to delay introducing solids to 6 months and exlusive breastfeeding include: ( here are just some of them, there are more) Baby - accelerated neuromotor development - less infectious disease, especialy diarrhea - decrease risk of ear infection - decreased risk of developing allergies - increased ability to disgest solid - gives baby needed immunologic protection Mother - enjoy delay in the retun of their fertility - more rapid weight loss------------------------------------------------- ok... back to eating greens...If you are also struggling like me or just want something creative and interesting to give your little one, check this out. I just came across Jessica Seinfield's review and recipe from her book Deceptially Delicious on Oprah.com. She feed her children Chicken nuggets, Macoroni and Cheese, Chocolate brownies! Dont be alarm with these delicious yet sinful food, there are vegetable goodies in them. Chicken Nuggets (with Broccoli or Spinach or Sweet Potato or Beet), Macaroni and Cheese 1 (with Butternut Squash or Cauliflower) and Brownies (with Carrot and Spinach). She also hides cauliflower puree in her scramble egg which provides kids with half the daily value for vitamin C. With more than 19 grams of protein per serving, these scrambled eggs pack a powerful protein punch! Check out this link for her recipes.

Need to Slow down and start blogging again.

Ha... it's been months literally since my last blog. There's just too much going on that I have not much time to sit down, reflect and write. We travelled to Vietnam in Oct07, Cambodia in Nov07 and Macau in Dec07. Together with all these vacations was visits from relatives and close kins from overseas and not to mention festive season! Christmas, Birthdays, New Year and the Chinese Lunar New Year! I wonder when is it ever going to slow down? Guess it probably is never going to slow down, but I have to learn to slow down myself and get organized!
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Anyway, guess what, I just google " blog slow down" and I came across this blog which I thought are just brilliant. Frugal Parenting which have many creative ideas to save and manage finances & famly life. This blog then led me to discover so many other blogs that are so useful to blogging. There's  ProBlogger which has valuable advices on blogging and tips to help you make money blogging, CopyBlogger which gives copywriting tips for online marketing success, there's  FeedBurner & StatCounter which I have not quite figured out what it is all about, but looks like all the blogs that I have came across have this little RSS Feed icon  I'm probably missing something big from there.

The list is endless.
I will explore further and see what treasures I have! Update soon.

9 reasons your baby makes a holiday special!

Back to the topic of traveling with Babies or Toddlers. Many may wonder why should... since babies don't remember anything when they grow up. But we believe differently. Here are some reasons why we feel that are great reasons to bring your kids with you on a holiday! :) (inspired by an article I read from a magazine)

Please drop me some comments on your own experiences!

1  You truly bond as a family

It's amazing how you really spend time together when you are away from your work, your daily activities. We cant imagine leaving Tristan behind, it'll feel like a big part of us is missing.

2  You delight in your kid's excitement and happiness

Although you may think that they don't know what's going on, they actually do. Tristan gets really excited when he sees the plane, when we reach the hotel, meeting different people, visitng places, sight seeing and tasting new flavours.

3  You go places or notice things you otherwise wouldn't

I would lookout for interesting places or things that Tristan can paticipate in or he could relate in. It may be a circus,  an animal show or just cows along roads during a journey to the country side.

4  You expand their horizon

One of the best way to learn and grow is to travel. It's the experience that changes you, the knowledge that you gain you can never get it from any books. I am not sure how much Tristan will remember from these trips but I am sure it has somehow made an impact on him :)

5  You teach them to adapt

This is one thing that Chris and me would like to bring up our children by. To be flexible and to adapt to different environment and situation. Tristan is pretty felxible so far, he can sleep early or late, and is not a fussy eater. He eats whatever we eat.

6  You become hands on

When Chris and I work, Tristan is taken care of by my nanny. So when travelling, it gives us an opputunity to be full time parents. So we have to take care of him from A-Z, from changning nappies to bathing, feeding...etc. It gives us a great chance to bond.

7  You learn to slow down

Many little things amazed toddlers, it's a wonderful chance to slow down and appreciate these things with them. And to see the world through their eyes.

8  You create shared memories& build a treasure of keepsakes

That's part of the reason why we are so crazy about taking photos. We want to keep them so that when Tristan grows up, he can look at them and we can relive the moments again and again. Theses memories are priceless!

9  You get fresh perspective

We brought Tristan to Bali, where we first went 2 years ealier for our honeymoon. We went to pretty much the same places, but with Tristan, we get to experience it in a whole new different way. We more spend time in the pools, walk around the parks and enjoy the sea breezes together.

Here are our top 9 reasons why your toddler will make an holiday special. Tell me yours and I'll add to the list.

 

An interesting quotation that I found on the net about travelling.

Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on,
deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. ~ Miriam Beard

Just a last thought...

Without a baby sling, these travels are almost impossible!

(a small advertisement: heheh... www.mummyhugs.com)

At wit's end at 5 am!!!

Yes it's 5:30am already! and I have been awake the past hour trying to soothe my angry son. He refuse to go back to sleep on his own without 'nen nen'(nursing).I am... frustrated, tired AHHH!!!! I give up & gave in! He is sleeping now after an hour of struggle, but I feel horrible.. Letting cry and scream and vomit for an hour then "GIVE IN" to his request. I need help!

It all started when I received an email from a friend in JULY 07 of mine saying that her 3 month old is sleeping through the night and 11 hours straight!!! I mean ... how's that possible? My son is 18 months and he still awakes up twice at least every night for 'nen nen'. At first I was worried for my friend's baby if he was alright to sleep through the night? I mean really nothing wrong? I cant believe it.

So I replied asking if she's sure there's nothing wrong with baby? I mean can a baby at 3 months sleep through the night?!She told me that she has been training him to sleep. Curious, I asked her how she did it. She's reading an e-book on sleep techniques and teaching your baby/toddler/child to sleep longer and better. That a baby after 3 months is ready to store enough food in his growing tummy to sleep through the night. The website is call www. sleepsense.net

Since Tristan was born, he was nursed to sleep. I would nurse him and sing him little prayers and he would just fall asleep. It was such a wonderful feeling. But months after months of nursing and over a year of sleepless nights, I think it's time for a change. I read the book motivated to teach Tristan to fall back to sleep on his own, without nen nen and to let him develop good sleep habits by letting him sleep longer and better AND finally both me and baby can get some real unbroken SLEEP.... I decided to try it.

I wrote down the few tips from the book:-
1)Eliminate sleep props (no more nursing to sleep)
2)Bedtime routine (recommend to sleep about 7-8pm!)
3)Use a 'blankie' (my son has a little duck that he sleeps with everynight)
4)Repeat key words such as " It's time to sleep", "Night Night time"

First night(22nd JULY 2007-as I recorded in my book...) was...'hell'! Chris was at working night shift and me alone trying to soothe a crying child is no joke. I'm not sure if I did right, I nursed him and he fell asleep as usual at 8:20pm. He woke up at 9:05pm crying. Cried his hearts out and each time I put him back on the bed, he screamed and cried even more. I have never seen him cry so hard before. He was such a happy and sweet child. I was confused, am I doing the right thing? am I teaching him anger instead?

at 9:30pm still crying non stop. kept walking towards the door and wanting to go out of the room as if looking for something. I picked him up and put him gently back to bed telling him it's night night time. But he still wakes up each time more angrier and screaming and pointing towards the door. I gave in to his request and open the door. I carried him and as he pointed where to go, I brought him, telling him it's night night time and everyone is asleep. Even the cats... fish... everything.
He waved bye bye and finally seem to understand and we went back to the bed room. He started crying AGAIN.... (fast forward... an hour of struggle later...) I manage to feed him some water and let him lie down.. and he fell asleep! on his own! without 'nen nen'! Was is a success?

the next night... the crying continued! He was crying so much that his temper and anger got worst. He started throwing tantrum. My heart aches each time he cries and scream. Feel like the worst mother ever! Have I done something terribly wrong? what am I teaching him?

In a few days, we were traveling to another city for a wedding, staying a new place, unpredictable bed times..etc... Chris says we should do this only after the wedding, when we come back. Frustrated.. and tired. I agreed. And continue nursing him to bed.


I think I gave up too easily. It's even harder to teach him now. I still love and will continue breastfeeding but it's becoming a habit (not sure if it's a bad habit) for Tristan. As he is not hungry, he just want nen nen to help him go back to sleep. He cant sleep back on his own!

I tried it again.. just last week! It got worst this time... he screamed... choke on his saliva and vomit all over the bed. I had to control my frustration and anger... soothe the screaming baby... change the bed sheet and clean him and his puke in the middle of the night. He look so poor thing... and tired. And guess what! I gave in and nurse him to sleep! after all that drama!

I shouldn't have given in. He will start crying and screaming for longer period of time, knowing that he will get what he wants in the end... But how then? My heart breaks to see him so poor thing, vomited, tired, angry, swollen eyes from crying... What's a mother to do?

Is there an answer out there my sleep troubles??? This habit is really bugging me. Am I pushing him too hard? Will he learn on his own eventually? Are there other ways?...

Back from Vietnam!

Yes we are back from Vietnam! And finally I got the chance to sit down and write this blog of mine. The trip was great, tiring but an eye opener to another culture, way of life and food. :) Pictures speak louder than words so click on the album on the right column to see it. Enjoy.

OUT OF OFFICE!

Ha! finally I am going on vacation! Going to Vietnam with Chris and Tristan. Many would actually drop their jaws, surprise.. and think we are crazy. "Why you bringing baby with you?... How to enjoy? .. Baby will suffer... So Young, baby wont benefit... He wont remember a thing.."
But oh well, I guess Chris and I have agreed to bring baby wherever we go. We want Tristan to see the world, experience different culture and way of life. Let him adjust and be able to live in all type of conditions and environment. We hope to let him grow up a tough boy. 'rough it out'. But of course we take all the precautions and make sure he drinks and eat hygienic food... etc. And of course it will be more tiring, carrying him (10 KG now!) and walking miles shopping and sight seeing.
But it'll all be worth it!
Found a site that talks about travelling with baby.
I am looking for something which I read before... how your baby will benefit from traveling, how babies brain develops from newborn to 3 years of age... will up date later and tell you about my trip then!Seeya!

Travel with baby

Check out the other Mummy Bloggers!

I just came across a few amazing mummy bloggers online. I added them onto "Blogs I Read" column. (Just added this new column too :) hehe very happy of my small achievement.

Have a look at some of them listed here and I am sure you'll be as amazed as I am. Salute to these Mamas!

Let's get wokking!

This stay at home mum has amazing recipes and amazing photography of the food she cooks for her family. Check it out!

Mumspotting

This WAHM is one amazing artist.

Musing of a new mother

A full time working mom writes witty stories about her life as a new mom. There's so much that I can relate to :)