Man-to-Man Talk

Daddy was bathing Ivan recently.

[Ivan pointing at his ding-ding] : Daddy look it's hard....

[Jef] : Yeeaaaahhh ...

[Ivan] : Why?? Why is it hard?

[Jef] : It's hard because you are growing up..

** Awhile later, ding-ding turned softie

[Ivan] : Ohh .... it's not hard now. Means I'm growing down?

*teehee*

Burung Hantu

At 0030hrs, I fed Jayden and crossing my fingers (and toes) that he will go back to sleep. But, *duhhh* it's happening again ! For almost a week, he will be awake in the middle of the night for atleast 3 hours. No matter what I do, he will not go back to sleep. *sigh* this is a typical case of getting his 'day' and 'night' mixed up. In the daytime, he will be sleeping soundly and wakes up only when it's meal time and when night falls, he will be fully recharged and awake.. for atleast 3 hours like burung hantu (owl). *hooott ... hoooooottt .... hoooooott*

I have tried to keep him awake in the daytime by disturbing his sleep pattern. Interrupt his sleep by bathing him, talk and play with him, clean him and change him in the evening and more talking. But, he will still be awake in the night time. So, yesterday night was no difference.

He cried for milk at midnight and stayed awake till 0404 hrs. What were we doing during this period of time? He was clearing out all day's dump in 3 diapers at 3 different intervals. So, while changing and cleaning him up, his little eyes would be wide open and looking around the room. Then, I would need to cradle him in my arms, praying hard that he will fall asleep again. Just when his little eyes are finally looking tired, then he has hiccup. *blink*blink* Mr hiccup wakes up Jayden's sleepy eyes. And, the process starts all over again. But this time, he will probably be asking for another bottle of milk first before falling back to sleep and then again ... hic hic hic ...

The hiccups are not helping at all and he seems to be getting it alot at night. Is there a way to cure or prevent hiccups? I googled and sadly, I found none. It's only natural and will go off after a while.

*sigh*

Mother of 2

I'm now a mother of 2. Mother of 2 little boys ! Another one to keep us busy.

Anyway, delivered my 2nd little boy 2 days ago and that started off my 2 months maternity leave. *yipppeeeee* Well, though I'm a mother of 2 now, I have still a couple of 'first times' with 2nd pregnancy and labour experiences.

Let's start from pregnancy. It was the first time when I didn't even steal a sip of coffee throughout the pregnancy. I'm a coffee addict since primary school and without my daily dose, I'm a walking zombie. When I was expecting Ivan previously, I had around 5 cuppas throughout. *teehee* Not that coffee is a no-no beverage to have but it has something to do with calcium intake and how coffee reduces calcium in me. So, that's why I stayed away from my daily booster-coffee. With 2nd pregnancy, the moment I found out that I'm having a baby, I stopped taking till delivery. If you ask me, it's really something. To be able to stop an additiction for more than 34 weeks.

For the first time, I didn't use epidural despite the encouragements I have given to lots of expecting mummies and also, despite the fact that I was really grateful to epidural during my first labour experience. Hmm, trust me. Till now, I will still sing the same song. Epidural is one of the greatest invention of mankind. And why didn't I use it this time round? Ha ! All because of what Jeffrey said.

I started having contractions on the day before actual labour starts. Though it was mild and measured as 40% of the real pain, it is still painful. Jef saw the gritting pain look I wore on my face and commented, 'Ha .. see your face sure cannot tahan and will use epidural again'. Waaaahhhhh ... that's it. Told myself to try my best to handle the pain. I mustn't ask for epidural. *fingers crossed*. So, in the delivery suite, the staff nurse asked me, 'What kind of painkiller would you want to have? Would you want to have epidural?' And me replied, 'Errr .. let's see the pain level later.' :P In the end, I didn't use epidural. It was painful like hell. The laughing gas didn't help and the painkiller jab on the thigh was useless. But I could feel the entire process. I can still remember how it felt when baby's about to come out and the final push. Hmm ... an experience I would never forget.

Lastly, it is the first time I breastfeed direct to baby. :) With Ivan previously, I only managed to express it out and it didn't last long. Hmm .. really not long. But this time, I was kind of determined to try breastfeeding. And I did. The first time when baby latched on to me, that moment was really warm and felt so close to baby and I feel the responsibility. I am now responsible in watching my diet and make sure that whatever I eat is good enough for baby. *grin* Don't know how long it will last though. Heheh .. I'm another lembu betina now.

Now that I'm a mother of 2, I hope to be able to provide the same amount of tender loving care and attention to both my sons. I hope to be the same mother to both of them equally and that simply means I will not have the inclination to favour one from another. God grant me the strength and tolerance. Amen.

The New Boy In Town

Heya .. look out ! There's a new boy in town. :)

Meet Jayden Thong Ken Xu, my 2nd son. Another love of my life ...

P/S: This is a backdated post. :P I have problem finding nice pictures of him. Hmm ... I *must* get a new camera !

Monster

On the bed, while trying to sleep yesterday night.

[Ivan] : Mummy, I'm scared.

[me] : Scared of what?

[Ivan whispered] : Monster ...

[me] : There's no monster Ivan. Just close your eyes and keep quiet.

[Ivan] : If I don't close my eyes and keep quiet, there's monster?

[me] : There's no monster Ivan... sleep, ok?

[Ivan points at the wardrobe] : What's that?

We left a little light on in the wardrobe, so that it will not be pitched dark in the room. I looked at where he is pointing and saw nothing suspicious.

[me] : There's nothing there Ivan. Nothing to be afraid of, ok? This is your home.

[Ivan] : If not my home then there's monster?

[me] : No Ivan. There's no monster at all.

This conversation is getting lengthy and Ivan looks terrified. I adjusted myself alittle to be nearer to him.

[Ivan] : Who's that??

[me] : Huh?

[Ivan] : Who's that?? Who moved the blanket?

[me] : It's me, Ivan. I moved the blanket... it's my leg. Nothing to be afraid of. We are here with you...

[Ivan] : If mummy and daddy not here then there's monster?

[me] : Hhehehe .. no no no monster, Ivan. Come let's sleep.

Ivan ended up snuggling closer to me with his face buried next to me. Such an imagination. Can't remember whether I was like this when young. :P

Conversations with Ivan

Chapter 1 : Soft Spot

After one of our usual argument sessions.

[me] : Ivan, I'm not feeling well, can you not make me angry?

[Ivan with a really sad lost puppy look] : I'm not feeling well, can you not make me cry?

Awwwww ...

Chapter 2 : I'm Right (All The Time)

Recently, I woke him up at 4 am to get him to use the toilet. (Just taking proactive action to prevent him from wetting the bed).

[me] : Ivan, Ivan, Ivan ... do you want to pass urine?

[Ivan shook his head]

[me] : Hey, you know what? I think you need to. Get up ..

* I know it's darn irritating to wake someone up from deep sleep. just to get him to go. But, hey, it's better that way that wetting the bed, right? C'mon ... he's also going to wake me up when he wets the bed. There are more that I need to do then. Need to change him, get cloths to clean the bed and so on and so forth. So, get up, go to toilet and spend half a minute there, boy.

[Ivan shook his head and ignored me]

[me] : Get up .. Come, I'll hold your hand to the toilet.

Ivan reluctantly moved his body slightly. Eventually, I managed to get him up to the toilet. But, outside of the toilet, he refused to get inside.

[Ivan] : I don't have ! I don't have pee pee !!!!!!

[me] : Hey .. go inside and try. Just stand infront of the bowl and try.

[Ivan] : I don't havveeee !!!!!!!

[me tricking Ivan] : My, what's that in our toilet bowl? You want to go take a peek?

Ivan went inside to peek at the bowl while I pull down his pants. He then started doing his little business. For an egoistic boy like Ivan, he hates to admit defeat. In this case, he knows that he has the urge to go but he's just plain lazy to do so. So, he insisted that he doesn't have. During times when he's awake and we ask him to go, he will get us to 'close-our-ears', hoping that we will not hear him taking a leak. Ha ! That's Ivan.

[Ivan] : I don't like you .. *grumble*grumble*

See what I mean?

Heroes and Villains Gone Nutz

"Mummy, I'm Venom. I'm the black Spiderman, the bad one."

"MMmmmmm"

"Mummy ! I'm Venom !"

"Ok ok ok ... "

"Mummmmmyyyyyy ... I'm Venom !!!!!!!!"

"Ok ok ok ... Hi Venom !"

"I'm Venom .. ! I'm Venom ! I'm Venom ... !!!!!! How many times you want me to say??"

"Allright, allright. So??? You are Venom.. so what?"

............................. Ivan continued to lose his frustration over his craze for wanting to be villain. Then, 30 minutes later, he will probably change to Ben 10 or Ben 10 Alien Force. Mind you, there's a difference, ok? Especially the kind of aliens that they can transform to. Both are different and we need to memorize by heart. *sigh*

That's how persistent and unreasonable he can be. He can be Heatblast one minute and JetRay next. Later on, he can probably change to Ben 10 Alien Force with different set of aliens. The trouble is, once he has informed you, you gotta remember what hero or villain he is. Failing to do so will make him frustrated and lose temper.

Goodness ... do you have similar child at home?