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 :)

Problem waking up early!

I have been horrible at waking up early. I'll open my eyes at 8am when my alarm rings, tell myself to go back to bed, and snooze off for another hour or so. Then when I do wake up- late, I feel so awful! Ahhh... There goes the mood for the whole day. I feel so bad that I'll not sleep early at night cos I feel that I have wasted the whole day! Seems like a vicious cycle that I am trying to beat.

When I was working, I had to force myself to wake up no matter what time I sleep. At least there was something to push me. But now.. it feels like I have 'no reason' to wake up early. Feels like everyday is a Sunday to me... oh... how nice to snuggle with four pillows and blanket when the weather is cold and rainy.

I googled 'problem waking up early' and I got the following interesting links to share. Just in case there's anyone sharing the same problem.

How to become a early riser?

Waking Up Early - Why is it so hard?

Becoming a early person

----------------
Not sure whether I can pull all this 'working from home', 'running own business' off. I just find it harder and harder to motivate myself each day. It feels like what I read in the book 'The Milk Memos'.

Oh ya before I forget, I recommend this wonderful book that I just completed: "The milk memos" by Cate Colburn-Smith and Andrea Serrette. It's a hilarious book by 2 mothers from America working for working for IBM. They started to write down their thoughts and feelings into a note book in the lactation room where they express their milk for the babies while they continue to work after giving birth. They also provide tips and advice for mothers who wants to continue to breastfeed, and how they mix being a mother and working. http://www.milkmemos.com/

There's a section that talks about working from home: "How it can be very hard to concentrate when the love of your life is right there next to you... that you may feel guilty when you cant give him the full attention... about missing social interaction with co-workers..."

Well that is ME! exactly! Still trying... and keeping myself going! Wish me luck!

Survival vs Sucess

Was speaking to a friend and this very interesting topic came up...

As a parent.. are we teaching our kids to survive or to succeed?

Many instill fear in their child to fend for themselves, to be afraid of the negative
consequences, to live a 'safe & secure' life. But are we hindering them from success?

We hear of so many successful and famous scientist, philanthropist and great leaders today. They did not live their life in fear, but a curiosity and a will to move forward and to be successful without thinking twice about failure. But when they fail, they get up and try again.. they fall, they get up and run again. Many of them did not live a typical life, some never did well in school, somedidnt have the opportunity to access education and other facilities that we have at our finger tips. But these people achieve so much in life and attained such a high level ofsuccess that many will never be able to reach in our life time.

Sometimes many are so afraid to being a 'bad' parent that they end up deciding everything for their child... telling them it's good for them. So when does a parent make decision for their child and when do we start letting them make their own. To experience the consequence of their own decision, to fall and get up again.

Just something for every parent to think about in this highly competitive, Kiasu (fear of failure), Kiasi (fear of death) society.