Our SAM adventure

3rd month

Nathanael  reached his 3rd month this week. His accomplishments include smiling, cooing and he has even started  to turn! We brought him out quite often as it's  the school hols and many parents commented that his height and built is comparable  to a 6 months old baby. I am so happy to hear that as people other than myself has noted his growth. I am so glad that all that breastfeeding  seems to work well on him.. the sleepless nights falling asleep cuddling him in my arms whilst feeding. Those efforts are so worthwhile!

We thank God for blessing us with his arrival and having the chance to revisit motherhood.. there are certainly moments which i will learn to  treasure and bonds to build between a parent and child. Moments such as his first giggles; his first coo; his baby gibberish and bodily movements like tiny kicks and high fives. Or major accomplidhments such as a turn and strength to hold his head. These are moments which  I hope to be there to encourage  and render suppport.  It's  heartening  to see that little smile when he knows that you are there for him no matter what. Love you so much little one!

This is the song that doesn't end

Loved this song when i was a kiddo.. you just cant stop singing it cause it's catchy and fun!

This is the song that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friend. Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue singing it forever just because...

This is the song that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friend. Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue singing it forever just because...

Parent and kid baking course

Kids had a great time at the baking course today!  Baking to me is a relatively tedious thing. Particularly the cookie cutting. . You need a tonne of patience to imprint the intricate designs. Personally i do not have a pair of deft hands. Intricate Handicraft gives me a headache without fail, and with kids around the level of difficulty increases by ten fold!  You need eyes around your head. With your back turned, Nathan may end up eating the ingredient. Fortunately the instructor is always there to help.

Well everything ended on a good note. We had cookies to eat at the end of the day and didn't go back empty handed! In fact the cookies look super fabulous and taste wonder-licious!

Papa we saved some yummy teddies for you! Come back safely from Vietnam! 

Milk supply 2

Been a milk bottle for 2 months now and flow is starting to see some form of consistency.  Will usually express in early morn ie 3/4 am and that could fetch about 300ml. Next round will be in the morning or afternoon depending on the actual volume consumed and weather plays a part too.  I will be able to extract 200ml followed by another 150 to 200ml if i express at night before sleep. So all in on a good harvest, I'll be able to gather 700ml of expressed milk! The 3 tier large capacity freezer is now filled to the bream. And soon i will have a problem with storage. Really can't bear to see my efforts flow down the drain if storage cannot be resolved! It's a good problem which definitely needs a resolution.

Spectra pumps

Colleague recommended spectra for quick and efficient pump.  She had the medela freeetyle but vouched that Spectra is even better and more effective in extracting the last bit of milk supply in a shorter duration. Given that we are likely to not have a fourth kiddo. .. i am tempted but unlikely to purchase and breast pump. 

Well just in case if any one reading this is keen on knowing more, here's sharing the specifications:-

"Spectra S9+ Double Breast Pump is a new compact double breast pump from South Korea. Spectra breast pumps are the only ones in the world to feature massage (let down) mode to stimulate the milk production. Spectra S9+ is the smallest and lightest of all Spectra breast pumps.

Here is what else we love about this pump:

Double-sided pumping in a tiny package - the pump weights only 300gm
Closed system - prevents breast milk backflow into the motor
5-level Massage mode and 10 Level Suction/Speed adjustment
Much quiter than traditional electric breast pumps
Built-in rechargeable battery
Suction pressure of 300 mmHg
Super easy to clean - only the funnels needs to detached and washed after every pumping
Automatically shuts off after 30minLCD screenTimer"

Double boiled papaya milk

Double boiled papaya milk

Found this recipe online and thought i should give it a try given it's yummy review. And guess what it really taste quite good.  Will monitor my milk flow this evening to find out if it has any correlation with this intake as it claims to gave a positive impact on lactating mums. Well even if it didn't work as miraculously as others claim. . It's still a great dessert for me and the kids!

Ingredients
1/2 cup papaya cube/balls
1/2 cup fresh milk
Little bits of rock sugar 

1. Prepare a pot. Put in an elevated steaming rack, and pour water up to 1-2cm higher than the rack. Bring to a boil
2. Put papaya into heatproof bowl.
3. Put rock sugar over papaya.
4. Put papaya into the pot onto the rack and double boil on high heat for 15 minutes. Remember to put the lid on and the water should not come up higher than half the height of the bowl.
5. Turn off the heat. Pour fresh milk over the papaya. Put the lid back on and turn heat to high and double boil for another 10 minutes.
6. Serve warm. 

Nathanael's 2nd month

He is such a curious little beaver and has since started to explore his surrounding, finding comfort in ornaments that dangles like the living room light, wall photos etc.  He will coo at them and gives them the cutest giggles and laughter whenever he sees them.

At 2 months the Michelin look is starting to take shape. We love to watch him during and after his bath. He will kick his little legs and attempt the cutest frog style and coos along happily as he makes waves with his hands and legs. He will cry for another round or stamp his little foot when he is lifted out of the waters prematurely, protesting and wanting to continue his swim for a while more.  When we return him to his bath water,  one could literally see the sparkle in his eyes and loud giggles followed.

Nathanael loves to  wiggle with itch whenever lotion is applied on his body.  He looks at us curiously not knowing what's happening to him and why he is wriggling to our touch. He is such a smiley baby! Everyone especially the kids loves him the most. He is like their special toy who can poop and cry for attention. They are utterly amused with his ability to coo when talked to.  Jie jie simply loves it when he kicks her in the face with his tiny little feet.  It'll send her down with uncontrollable laughters.

Gong gong

The kids are so loved by their gong gong who drives over early in the morning to prepare them for school.  Despite his age ie 74 (born in June 1941), he will drive by twice daily to visit and have dinner with the kids!  I certainly admire his love and tenacity. .. One requires such dedication and efforts to show his love to us, the parents, and the kids. Not forgetting that he will buy breakfast for the adults ie wan tan mee or roti pratas on Sundays as well as fresh vegetables and meat from the wet market for the kids.

We are so blessed to have you around!  May God look after you and continue to bless you with Good health!

Milk supply

Been 6 weeks now and milk supply may have reached a steady stage.  Honestly i haven't been extremely diligent ie pump after every feed,  perhaps it's less stress as there were less people who antagonises me during confinement as such flow may not be overly abundant but sufficient for storage.

This round neither have i really been eating the confinement food.ie not much wine.. Particularly the black chicken with hard liquor which intoxicates me without fail.  Having gone through 3 births,  i realised that the key thing is to make sure that my diet is filled with veg, fish and meat. Chicken with red rice wine (4 bottles + 1 small bottle of Benedictine Dom) consumed this round was lesser and so was pork knuckles. To help with the milk flow, it is important to consume loads of oat. Breakfast is usually quaker oat with manuka honey and berries and of course not forgetting milk and essence of chicken.  

Not sure if there is a direct correlation between food and milk quality,  my milk quality may not be as rich yellow, which contains loads of fat, compared to my previous delivery. However Natanael is a huge drinker and at 6 weeks his weight went up to 5.29kg, which places him in the P75 category. He is relatively chubby now and we can tell that he is gaining muscular mass with his consumption pattern. Post 1 month he no longer poops in the middle of the night. So helper was able to sleep throughout.  As for feeds, after his last feed at 9pm, he wakes up at 1 and 3/4am for subsequent feeds.

Other than diet, i am a strong believer that confinement is a period for one to perspire  to lose the additional weight. As such, my confinement month of 40 days passed without aircon nor fan. Of course this does not mean that you'll stink.  Personal hygiene is extremely important.  I showered twice a day and change whenever i suffer from the onset of perspiration.   it may be the combination of the perspiration, diet and postnatal massage coupled most importantly with the daily wrap with bengkung at the abdomen.. well i am pretty much close to my original figure pre natal. So losing weight is kinda less stressful too. Hopefully i can maintain the tenacity and upkeep the flow when i return to work.