5 Months Old!

Dear Janice,
You're 5 months old today and there hasn't been a single day that I haven't discovered something new about you. You've been growing so much this month that I am excited to be spending my days with you, just to discover more.
You started childcare this month while I started work part time and you've been adapting pretty ok. You enjoy yourself most when the teachers place you in your little gym mat/float at the playground watching the older kids play around you. You still give them a piece of your mind each time you're given milk from a bottle though.
You've also migrated from your little bassinet to your cot (which we had it snugged into our little bedroom so that you could still be near us). You weren't sleeping too well earlier this month and have been complaining and fussing in your bassinet as if telling us that you were running out of space. I took a gamble and shifted the cot in one day and you took to it immediately that night, your arms sprawled out enjoying the space around you. You have been sleeping much better from that day on. I was so afraid that you wouldn't take to the cot because of the many stories I have heard that babies who did not start off with cot will not want to be in one, but I guess I was wrong. Now that you have the space, I wake up in the middle of the night to find that you've wriggled all the way from the bottom end of the cot to the top. You're pretty strong and have been moving on your back so much that I suspect that you might just derive a "on the back move" as a stop gap before you actually learn to crawl so that you can still get to places you want to go. It's scary for me because I have to watch you more and cannot leave you alone unless I strap you down :)
You're still learning to roll and gets very frustrated when you could only make it halfway. Don't worry, you'll get it very soon, with more persistency. Your motor skills have also grown this month and no longer do you just bat on the toys in front of you, you've been reaching and grabbing them, of course everything ends up in your mouth, from toys to blankets to socks. You've been wanting to sit up and it's been a challenge to place you in the car capsule because you'll be wanting to sit up and refusing to lean back for the seat belt.
As I pen down all these, I realised how eventful this month must have been for you. You also started some solids and you absolutely love it. You're pooing less frequently though, so I am praying that this phase will pass by quickly and your little stomach will adapt better. We've been spending more Saturdays outdoor for you as the weather have turned cooler. You just love the wideness and space in the parks, on the grass. We started Sunday School for the afternoon service yesterday and you participated in almost everything, chipping in with your goos and gars, rolling around on the picnic mat when we were outdoors too. Alicia and Elise have been so loving to you, giving you cuddles and kisses and asking for you frequently. You love being with them too, though you can't quite play yet and without supervision, they can try out real weird things on you like pressing toys against your nose etc. The kiss you leaned over for Alicia was just priceless.
You're a pretty independent one and I look at you with pride and joy when you talk to yourself (or the toys) and falls asleep on your own. You could sit in front of the TV and enjoy your "school time" with on your own for up to 45mins sometimes. You laugh and flap your arms whenever I turn it on and how you've grown to be so familiar with it that you would sit quietly for me to strap you onto the rocking chair and I fiddle with the DVD player.
My little one, we're so glad that you love people and adapts well even when we take you around for night prayers and life group and sometimes the entire day at Church. Thank you for adoring our company and showering us with your chuckles and smiles. You laugh easily even when popo merely calls out your name.
I love you my dear, your little fingers that touches and grab me all the time. I look forward to our family time on Saturdays and just the moments of conversing with you.
I pray each day you'll know His presence more and I could see God's amazing hands on you each and everyday. He soothes you when we can't and He provides His comfort and peace for you through the night.

I never knew I could love, but now I know and I thank you and your daddy for teaching me how.
Love, Mummy.

My Laptop Crashed!

My laptop crashed on Day 2 of my work. It hung, turned it off, and when I turned it on again, it was a blue screen with an error message. I can't start up windows and after some testing, I think it's a hard disk failure. Sad Case. Someone from Dell will be coming to give me a replacement hard disk since it's under warranty, and I am praying so hard that I can retrieve my files. I am really nervous thinking of those documents that I have spent ages to prepare, massive emails I have saved in outlook and of course those precious photos and videos taken. I am trying hard not to get into a panic mode now. Sob.

Back @ Work

I can't believe I am sitting at my desk in the office right now. After 5 over months, same desk, same cold gusty wind from the air con blowing straight over my head (often giving me a headache), datelines, emails ... It seems so normal though I think I need a couple of days to settle in and get back to the grooves. Still figuring out priorities of the tasks ahead and get organised a little. Everything seems pretty much familiar otherwise, oh except for a an added new task in between jobs - Milk Express! I tried to pack Janice's child care bag, and my work bag last night. So many things to pack, from change of clothes for her to bottles, and for me milk pump, extra bottles, ice packs etc etc. on top of the usual lap top and all. It was a feat just getting out of the house this morning "sweat free" and alive!

Janice is getting used to the Child care a lot more, drinks and naps better. But she seems to start recognising, though I initially thought she was too young to really know. But she cried this morning when I handed her to the teacher, and when I went back to peep through the window after 15 mins, she saw me and let out her cute little chuckle. Twice! I think I almost left my heart at the child care centre.

I love "Daddy Time"

I love "Daddy Time"
Originally uploaded by kelvin and chia yen

Janice loves her "daddy time". Kel has been such a darling! He brings Janice out on some evenings so that I have some time to cook. And best of all, he brings Janice out on most weekend mornings so that I have some time to sleep in while he has some quality time with Janice (and with God when Janice falls asleep; he even managed to catch up with a life group friend by dragging him for a walk cum catch up). Perfect combi! - I get the rest too! Janice will eiher be in the baby bjorn carrier, facing the world or this morning, she was in the jogging pram and she enjoys the time so much. Never fusses (so claims the proud daddy *grin) and takes her nap when she is tired without fussing. I think she really loves the outdoors like us, fresh air, birds chirping and haha cars zooming by. Kel even managed a couple of kilometers Jog this morning, his great plan to get his exercise regime back. Boy, am I a lucky wife to be able to sleep in :)

Girl'y day out

IMG_1251
Originally uploaded by kelvin and chia yen

Siew Ching, Cheryl and I had a girl'y day out 3 weeks ago (yes I am that back dated with blogging). Found this cafe tucked at the corner of The Barracks, the newly done up place at the Hog''s breath area opposite Caxton. A really nice pretty area and I am still craving for the smoked salmon s'wich I had. I really enjoyed myself catching up with 2 of them, we should do it more often! Girlfriends company is so refreshing! I really appreciate those times of catching up with girl-friends, like a cuppa with Geraldine after sending the girls to child care, a late night ice cream with Sunita lunch with Jos... lunch with Siew Ching and Cheryl ... just help me to remember that I am still "alive" and not just a mother! (if you know what I mean :)

Jumperooooo

Jumperooooo
Originally uploaded by kelvin and chia yen

My little squirmy has been released to do what she does best. Something that she exhibited even before she was born. Jumping, flapping her arms, kicking around. She had a ball of her time doing her "test drive" in the shop that we had to get it eventually. Imagine her jumping in that thing for more than 1/2 hr non-stop, and even when we pulled her out of it, she was still excited and "flappy". We just had to get it for her, despite the big pinch. It has been 2 weeks, and her daily exercise, chuckles and big smiles when she's just made it so worthwhile :)

She Loves the Outdoors

She Loves the Outdoors
Originally uploaded by kelvin and chia yen

Looking at expressions, Kel and I knew that we have to do this more often. We joined the J4 peeps at UQ for a game of mini soccer (actually Kel joined them, I sat at the sidelines with Janice) 2 weeks ago. She had great fun just rolling around. More pics can be found on Flickr or facebook.

I miss my little baby

Janice started Childcare on Monday, twice a week. She didn't adapt too well in the morning, but by afternoon, she was much better. I wonder how she is today. Man, finally I've got some time to myself and suddenly I just don't know what to do with myself. I've cleaned up and cooked 3 days worth of food on Monday, so today is a bit more relaxing. But it's so strange because no matter how much I occupy myself, I am still a bit absent minded kind of, because I keep thinking how she is coping there. I'll be going back to work in a week's time and she is currently the only baby in her age group because the rest hasn't come in yet. It's a brand new child care centre. So at the moment, there are two teachers to attend to her, which means she's really getting the attention. Alicia is in the same centre too, and this sweetie pie came by to Janice's room and gave her big sisterly hugs and kisses. Oh, how I miss Janice, Geraldine and I seems to be the only 2 moms, dropping by the centre 2 times through the day, peeping through the window to make sure they're ok.

Wisdom thoughts??

It's so difficult at times when you want to get everything for your child as long as your pocket allows. Everything that Janice enjoys, is happy having etc, it's just natural to want to get them for her. But it takes so much wisdom to know when to give, and what to give and how much to give. I used to kick a fuss when my parents refrained from meeting my "demands", but now I saw from their perspective how difficult it was to refrain too. I could scrimp and save to calculate the cost of each toilet roll to get the most cost effective brand, but sometimes almost not think twice to get an expensive fisher price toy for Jan. I know I got to learn much more self control especially when she's older. There's so much areas that require wisdom in parenting!

Caught in action

I sat janice in front of the mirror while i was clearing her room and packing her bag to head out and this cheeky monkey found her entertainment and snack?.

Combat Negativity

There has been quite a fair bit of negativity going around lately. It's terrible because spirits are dampened and crushed. Discouragements and bitterness loomed. I know I was affected by them and taking a clearer look at myself, I found bits of negativity towards relationships, situations lurking around too. I made an attempt to speak against them and was encouraged by a simple vegetale song that says "I have got a Mighty Messiah that Manifest within my soul". Combat negativity by His spirit. Hold on to His Word, I was reminded.

Phil. 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I think the enemy really uses this negativity to dampen the work of God and relationships between His people. We got to be careful not be used as his tool. Evaluate our speech, attitudes and heart conditions and learn to stand by one another with words and actions that edify.

Combat negativity.

Finally

I'm finally done with my 4 months entry. Even typed the last para with Janice sleeping in one hand :)