The soon to end saga

You are nearly 5 months old and the plan is to start weaning you off breastfeeding to be bottle fed and also start you on solids once we arrive in Malaysia. However, it is not as easy as you had to make lots of adjustments to the change in environment and schedules and recovering from your cold in the first 2 weeks. There was also an element of not wanting to add/increase your formula milk and decreasing your breastfeeding timing/sessions. I feel sad thinking of not breastfeeding anymore and I can't understand why. Maybe its because the journey to reach this situation has not been easy and I want to savour this for as long as I can? Maybe I don't want to lose the special bond? But I know this transition is for the benefit of us both and I need to constantly remind myself of this. It is better done gradually rather than 'cold turkey'.

It is also amazing that I have not thought much about your weight since we arrived in Malaysia. Drastic difference from my obsession with it in the past few months. It has been nearly 4 weeks that you have not been weighed. It's not that I don't care anymore but shows the power of distraction. Seeing you being constantly active and entertaining everybody certainly helps reassure me. Still, I plan to get your weighed officially in the next few days. I could easily be fooling myself as I do not feel you getting any heavier.

Chinese New Year

It was the first time you celebrated Chinese New Year! I don't think you understood much of it except that it was very hot and you kept meeting new people who wanted to carry you :) As usual, you were very cheerful and sociable and laughed with everyone when cool but started becoming subdued and cranky when it became humid and hot. Unfortunately it never rains during CNY.

As we were in KK, you were fortunate enough to hear LOTS of firecrackers going on at night. Thankfully you were not disturbed by it at all. We were also apprehensive about your reaction when we gave you an angpow to feed the 'lion' when lion dancers visited the house (common practice in KK) coz of the noise and action but there was no fear in you and not only did you put the angpow into the lion's mouth, you actually stroked the lion's head!! Your 'po tai' was more than amused.. Too bad we did not have the camera ready. I wonder if you will still be as brave next year when you understand what fear is.

First fall

2 weeks ago in KK...
A split second turn to throw your nappy away..
A loud thud on the floor followed by a piercing cry..
2 hearts that stopped beating for a moment..
You facedown on the floor

That was your first flip and your first fall from the bed. I wonder if this is the reason for you not to roll/flip since then?

Home Sweet Home

The journey was not as bad as expected and his cries were always controllable. Our little fella was a lot more restless than his counterpart Isaac who travelled together with his mummy and us. Our Isaac woke him a few times with his cries when he and his mummy was asleep and I was so embarassed, trying to hush him all the time. Oh well, it could have been any other baby crying :)
It's definitely fun to be back in Malaysia for Richard and I but not for him. He caught a cold from me just before leaving and the long journey, jet lag=lack of sleep, and change in weather was just a little too much for him and he fell ill with fever for the first time.. Thank God he was quite good through it all. It must have been tough learning about humidity, sweat and heat for the first time going through a fever :) Air-conditioning is a life saver! On the other hand, he's enjoying wearing almost nothing and being constantly fussed about.

We are definitely enjoying being pampered and eating :) The joys of Chinese New Year!

3, 2, 1 and its jet off!!

3 more days and we will be taking you on your first flight back to Malaysia, to see your great-grandparents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, to enjoy the sun, to eat, to go out at night, to shop.. the things to do's endless!! I am very excited but at the same time anxious about the journey, and all the adaptations that you will have to make. The plus side is jet lag should not be too bad for you since you wake up so many times in the night anyway :) Just have to get you to go back to sleep in between the feeds..

This will have to be short since its very late and I have just started packing today. Well, not really packing, just piling all the things that we will need to bring home on the bed in the guest room. Its really a sight to behold.

Social Activities

After the first cancellation, the baby massage classes started. It was still snowing the day of the first session but I was adamant to go after I called and found out it was going ahead. Surprisingly everybody turned up despite the snow. Maybe all mothers want a reason to go out?? You were very quiet but I think you enjoyed it. The best thing is you napping after that in the car seat. It was the first time you napped without me either holding you or in bed. You have been less quiet since then in the sessions but still very well behaved. Not surprising, since you always are when out :)

The same group also went for walks and we went to one in Calderstone Park. Another reason to get us out of the house for some fresh, cold air. I got to know a BBC with parents from Malaysia and we just clicked. If not for going back to Malaysia, we will definitely be going for more walks.

Friday is the BF support group and we go after getting you weighed. Think the best thing you like about it is the amount of toys available, although you still do not dare and is not sure how to go get them yet.

There's also the swimming classes. However, since it was bitterly cold, I have not brought you for any and its too late now as we are going back. It will be much more fun swimming in the sun in Malaysia though.

Thanks to the children centres we have been kept occupied recently. But, there will be lots more activities and fun waiting for you back in Malaysia. Just counting down the days now. The sad thing is not being able to go for these events when we get back coz I have to go back to work.

New developments

Last Saturday was the first time you flipped (actually more of a slow roll) while on your tummy to your back. I missed it the first time when your daddy shouted but thank God you did it again. Am so proud of you!! Now am waiting for you to do it the other way around.

There are actually quite a lot of changes turning from 3 to 4 months old (yesterday). You can play with your saliva, gurgle/babble alot more, grab toys above you in the playgym, amuse yourself, grab your legs and swing it left and right, look for me and smile when other people are carrying you, and flap both arms wildly when you see me approaching you in bed (wanting me to carry??).

On the bad side, you've been waking up 4-5x at night. Why, oh why??