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My personal blog: http://justmytots.com/

My baby Bryan's blog: http://mybb.justmytots.com/

Getting fit

This is a sponsored post

The slimming industry is definitely a booming industry. The advertisement promises great looks and a slim body without strenuous exercise or a strict diet. I particularly dislike these advertisements especially those targeted at new mothers.

Being a new mother myself, there is nothing embarrassing about having a few extra pounds after delivering a baby. That’s what Mother Nature intended us to have. The few extra pounds are needed to make sure that our body is able to provide the necessary nutritional requirements to our baby, during and after pregnancy (when breastfeeding).

That being said, having a fit physique is definitely a great confidence boost. In fact we should not work just towards a fit but a healthy physique. You can’t achieve that merely by going to a slimming centre.

What we need is a good regime which includes a good cardiovascular exercise, weight training and a healthy diet. And the result of this regime is a fitter you with a healthy glow, minus the hole in your bank account.

Sounds complicated and time-consuming. Not really. Actually, all we need is minimum 15-minutes exercise – 3 times a week. 15 minutes! That’s probably less than the time you spent in the shower daily.

OK, I am not asking you to replace your shower time with a fitness regime. I am merely saying that it is not as time consuming as you think. And you can make it work. If I can do it. You too!

Pillow to replace mummy?

Someone forwarded me an email about a pillow in the shape of a hand. The pillow can be placed over a sleeping baby to comfort and provide security to the baby. It supposedly helps to help the baby feel that his/ her mother is holding him.

The person who forwarded it to me says it's cute, and should get one for our new baby. Personally, I don't find it cute at all. In fact, I find it appalling.

How can a pillow replace a mother? Even if it is in the shape of a hand. Babies are meant to be held and comforted. The skin-to-skin contact is needed to help them grow and feel secure in the new environment. And babies are smart! They can definitely tell between a pillow and their mother.

Anyway, when I was a new mother, all I want to do all day is to hold my baby in my arms. That is the most beautiful feeling in the world. So I wouldn't want a pillow to take over my job, even if it can really do it.

Great hotel rates

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Hubby and I are planning for a trip to Phuket next month. As soon as we have our flight tickets confirmed, we started hunting for good hotel rates.

Like most travellers, I started with the websites offering discounts on rates, and I found this really great site for Hotel Reservation. At first, I thought that it is limited to hotels at United States but I was wrong. I found many great offers for hotels in Phuket. Actually, not just in Phuket, but in all cities all over the world.

The search function is really easy to use - Just key in your preferred travel destinations and dates and voila....the best rates available are now available! In fact, Hotel Reservation guarantee that the rates they offer are the lowest you can find. If there is a lower rate available, they promise to match the rate for the same dates and the same hotel. T&C applies of course.

What's great about this site is that it is truly caters for all your travel needs. Not just hotels but also flights, cars, vacation rentals and vacation packages.

And the news is about to get better. If you book now, you are entitled for up to US$100 rebate! How's that for a great deal?

I know that I have definitely found the site for my travel needs.

This post is brought to you by Hotel Reservations

I bought my own site

Finally, after months of deliberation, i bought my own site at http://justmytots.com/ .

There are still a lot to do at my new home, but I can't wait any longer to share this. Please update your links and see you at my new home.

Why so quiet?

I have bought my own domain! And right now, in the midst of setting the page up. That's why i have been so quiet on this blog. Any time i have for blogging (however little of it) is now spent on trying to figure out how to set up the new website.

Luckily i have a lot of help from my webhost.

Hopefully i will be able to introduce my new blog in a few days more. See ya.

Sunday Swim Session

This is a backdated post.

Went to Adventist with my friend to pick up our health screening report. Her husband, mine and Bryan came along as we do not expect our doctor's appointment to take long and we plan to have breakfast together later.

After our doctor's appointment, we went to Chung Hwa @ Midlands for dim sum breakfast, and proceeded to shopping at Gurney Plaza. (since Queensbay just opened, we figured that Gurney will be quite empty, and it is *he*he*)

Bryan was so excited with the Xmas deco there…the colorful baubles, balloons and stuff that it was so difficult to get him to nap. And he missed his morning nap, so he’ll get really cranky if he doesn’t sleep. Luckily in the end he did nap, for about 1 hour, while we had a late & light lunch at Dome.

Bought a new pair of floats at Parkson and we got home about 430pm. Breastfed him and tried to get him to nap. He wasn’t interested. So what shall we do?

Let’s go swimming again…with the new floats.

Results….

Bryan was not afraid of the water at all. The moment I let go of him, he kicked and waved his hands gleefully. This time, he even knew how to hold up his chin and to keep his mouth closed, as he bobbed up and down in water. But of course, he still did get a few mouthfuls of water in his mouth…I don’t want to think what’s in the pool water. I just hoped that the chorine will kill whatever bacteria in there.Hubby used the wrong setting on this photo, and it turned out blue...

After a few rounds of kicking around, when I tried to hold him close, he even push me away. He allowed me to gently support him and guide him as he floats but he refuse to let me hold him close.

The water, again was cold. In fact, I was feeling cold, but this boy did not seem to feel it.

As usual, when take him out from the pool, he wailed loudly and caught everyone’s attention at the pool.

Bryan’s trick to get out of car seat

How ah? Ask for nen-nen lo.

He discovered this trick last weekend.

Bryan: (smile sweetly) Nen-nen?
Shooi: Wait ah, wait till we get home ok?
Bryan: Ahhh…..(cry) nen nen nen nen nen nen
(cry some more & show tortured face)

With face like that, how to reject, so I took him out to BF him. He will smile

Bryan: nen-nen nen-nen (smile somemore)

After BF for like 2 mins, he will stop and want to explore the car. I will try to put him back to the car seat and there he goes wailing again.

This morning, he woke up at 6am. I carpooled with hubby today. So on the way to mum’s house at 730am, he repeated his trick.

Bryan: (smile sweetly) Nen-nen?
Shooi: This morning already give you liao mah. Ask poh-poh to give you when reach poh-poh's house. Car is moving.
Bryan: Ahhh…..(cry) nen nen nen nen nen nen (and point to my chest some more)

Aiyo…how did he learn this one!

Saturday Swim Session

The direction of the sun has changed and I found that the pool is shaded at 4pm onwards. (I think it’s earlier, but I haven’t the time to confirm). So decided to take Bryan swimming on Saturday, after a long stop.

My sis bought a pair of upper arm floats for Bryan a few month ago. They were really cute with Twetty Bird, Slyvester the Cat & Bugs Bunny design. I have not let Bryan use it before as they were quite big for his arms.

But now, I think they are the right size, and they are.

We went at about 430pm, and the water was quite cold, plus there is cool wind blowing. But surprisingly Bryan was not scared at all. In fact, the moment his feet touched the water, he wants to go in immediately.

But unfortunately, the “air stopper” pops up when we are in the water, so I dared not let go of him even when we are in the water.

And this naughty boy wanted to taste the swimming pool water, and kept opening his mouth. When I said “No”, he giggled cheekily.

Went round the pool a few times, but since the water is cold, we did not want to stay long. But the moment we pulled Bryan up, he wailed and struggled to get free. He was so funny that the security guard laughed at him, “Dia nak mandi lagi la…kakakakak”

Swim photos? Watch out for my next swim post!

Yeah…I have Penang FON now

Finally after months of unsatisfied service with Streamyx, we have Penang FON at our house. Why are we switching to Penang FON?

1. Streamyx keep dropping off, especially on weekends, starting from Friday night. Lately, it is getting worse that sometimes it will drop off in the middle of the work day (on the rare occasions when I work from home) or during my night conferences on weeknights. This is a big problem for me as I regularly have teleconferences at night, and is an even bigger problem especially when I am the host for the meeting, and need to share presentations.
2. My Streamyx connection is only 512kbs at RM66 per month
3. Penang FON is up to 2GB/s at RM60 per month
4. Most of the people I know who is on Penang FON are satisfied with the service
5. Only setback of Penang FON is I have to incur another round of startup fee, which totaled RM300 (inclusive of 3 mths refundable deposit).

So now, I have to go and cancel my Streamyx account. Let’s hope it’s an easy process.

Bryan's angpow saved the day

I was out for my regular car service appointment when the Penang FON staff came for the installation.

We asked the Penang FON admin to install on Saturday morning, but they never confirmed our appointment. So we did not expect them to come and thus did not prepare the RM300 for the start up fees & deposit.

Hubby had only RM100 cash with him, and was caught by surprise when the Penang FON staff came. He actually told them to wait while he confirm that he has enough cash to pay them.

We had Bryan's party just a few weeks ago, and all his birthday angpows are still at the top drawer in his bedroom. We haven't had time to even take it out from the packets and bank it into his account yet. So obviously that was the first place hubby went to hunt for $$.

Oh-oh...sorry dear, mummy & daddy will replace that for u ok.

Shake head

My colleagues warned me that the word that my baby will most expert at will be "NO" Bryan has not learnt to say No, but he is getting quite clever at shaking his head.

Me: Bryan, time to get out of bath now...up up!
Bryan : (Shake Head)

Me: (Try to put Bryan into the car seat)
Bryan: (Shake Head) (Throw tantrum)

Bryan: (Try to open the drawers)
Me/ Hubby: Bryan NO.
Bryan: (Shake Head)

Me: (try to get Bryan to finish his food)
Bryan: (Shake Head, pushes away the spoon)

The way he shakes his head is quite hilarious sometimes - very exagerated . MIL says he looks as if he is on Ecstasy.

New Mothers' Room

We have been asking for a new mothers room for a long time. There was a mothers' room previously but they tore it down to accomodate our company's expansion.

Pumping moms were asked to express milk at the sick bay at the in-house clinic. They did separate out a section for pumping moms but security is very loose.

A few mothers had their privacy intruded by people who were
1) looking for their sick friends; or
2) plain busy bodies

It is also not hygienic or conducive as there are sometimes unwell employees at the nearby beds.

So a few of us at the company had wrote multiple emails to the HR department and the Workplace services asking for a separate Mothers' Room and to ensure privacy and security for the pumping moms.

I had also wrote to WABA for materials to support our cause. WABA was very supportive to help provide materials. But unfortunately, the breastfeeding regulations in Malaysia is very weak. Eg 68% of the countries around the world has breastfeeding breaks for working breastfeeding mothers, but sadly, Malaysia is not one of them.

So since there are no rules governing the rights of bfg mothers, we had to champion our own cause.

I had been quite lucky that i do not used the old Mothers' room very frequently last time as
1) I extended my maternity leave until my baby is 3+ months
2) I worked from home for most of the days until my baby is about 10 mths old. I have been lucky that most of the projects that I was assigned when I returned to work do not require me to be physically at the office. I only went to the office once a week.

But since about 2 months ago, I was assigned to a new project that requires me to work with the local team and thus need to be at the office most of the days.

Anyway back to the blog title, as of yesterday, we have a brand new mothers room.

It is a bit smaller than we requested- we wanted min 5 stalls but were given only 4. But nevertheless it is a BIG improvement.

There is a bigger fridge now (1 door) instead of the miserable Minibar we had later, and there's a hot water pot and sink (but no soap *aiyo*) in the room. There is also some shelves for us to put our bags.

We had also asked for notice boards to be placed in the room, so that we can post bfg articles and our babies' photos. HR promised us this in Stage 2 of the plan (whatever it means).

Anyway, although this facility comes late for me (my baby is already 1 yr old) , I am still very happy on it, and am happy for the new pumping moms in my company.

How long to BF?

How long to breastfeed?

I really don't know. Main reason to introduce formula is I want to reduce pump sessions at work to max 1. Work load has been extremely heavy lately, with meetings/ teleconferences from 730am to 6pm, and then starting again at 9/ 10pm till midnight.

Basically, that has been my schedule in the last 3 days...Tonight also got conference till 12 mn. A few more days like that and i will see-sua (fall into pieces). Already i am having headache. So now taking a few minutes to blog and unwind, before getting back to work madness.

So introducing formula has nothing to do with planning for #2.

#1 has taken all my available time and not available time as well. And having #2 will surely kill me. Definitely have to wait till Bryan is bigger before planning #2. He still need 100% of my attention when i am with him.

Anyway, back to my title. Answer: don't know...kekeke. But probably not beyond 2, coz he will be a big boy then.

And when that time comes, i will surely be very sad and miss the special moments with him. Especially when he goes "mmmmm"....and gives me a smile during nursing, as if to say "thank you mummy"

The beginning of weaning

Bryan tried the EyeQ Gain formula today. At first sip, he made vomit face, but after that he accepted the taste and finished the 2 out of 3 Oz that mom prepared for him. Mom gave him another 3 Oz one hour later.

My frens at work was teasing me that if Bryan don't accept formula, then i will have to bf till he is 5.

I will soon be able to reduce my daily pumping session to just 1, but i will continue to direct bf Bryan whenever he's with me, ie nights and weekend.

But I am still a little bit sad. This would mean that our bfg relationship is slowly coming to end. Not that i want to wean now, but it marks the beginning....

More formula samples

It's Bryan's vaccination appointment again. I told the PD that Bryan hated the HA formula and he laughed saying that Bryan had got used to drinking "champagne".

So he gave me some extra packs to try - 2 types, one plain flavoured (Eye Q Gain Plus) and the other vanilla flavoured (Pediasure).

My fren's daughter loved the Pediasure because of the vanilla flavouring, but i prefer to give plain ones. Also i wonder how can the nutritional requirement of a 1 yr old child = 10 yrs, since Pediasure is for kids 1-10 years.

Will try the formula on Monday and see how.

Sleep talk

I used to talk in my sleep. When I was a school prefect in secondary school, sometimes I would start speaking in a disciplinary tone in the middle of my sleep. There was once in a slumber party during school time, I started talking in my sleep and gave my friend a good fright….kekeke. She woke up another girl in the room and she only relaxed when the the girl told her to ignore me as I was sleep talking.

After I got married, there were also a few occasions that I woke my husband up because he thought that I was talking to him.

Somehow, after I have a baby, the sleep talking stops, at least according to my hubby. Perhaps we were both too tired to notice even if I did.

But it looks like Bryan had inherited my sleep talking behaviour. There was a few times, that after I had tucked him to bed, and I was sure that he is fast asleep, I heard him giggling. When I checked him, his eyes were shut but he was still giggling happily.

Last night, I left his room immediately after he fall asleep and asked hubby to stay behind in case he wakes up. Hubby told me later that Bryan was making “brrrrrrrr” sound with his lips. This is his one of his latest favorite game during the day now.

Then at 11:30pm, I was at the dining room packing my stuff for work tomorrow. Bryan’s room’s door is wide open and I can see Bryan from where I was. He tossed a bit and suddenly sat up and said, “Aeeeiiiiiii (surprise tone)”, so I asked hubby to go in and check at him.

Hubby went & came out and said, he’s still fast asleep.

Looks like he is really developing a habit to sleep talk. Sleep talk, ok, but please don’t sleep walk/ crawl....keke.

Look at me, or...

Hubby was commenting that Bryan is getting more and more demanding. When he "talks" to us, we have to look at him. If we don't he will do anything to get our attention. Normally he will place his palms on our face and turn our face towards him.

The 4 persons closest/ who spend the most time with Bryan are my parents, hubby and me.

My parents - their activities revolve around Bryan when he is around. So he has their full attention most of the time.

Me - I consider myself pretty attentive to Bryan when i am with him.

Hubby - Quite attentive most of the time, but if there is something interesting on TV or if he is talking to someone, or working on something, he has a tendency to ignore Bryan for a while.

So looks like Bryan figured out a "sure-win" formula to get hubby's attention
#1: Swat at his glasses; or
#2: Hit or bite his mouth/ cheek - somehow Bryan noticed that these are more sensitive and will aim for these if hubby ignored him.

Hahaha..okay, it is not good to hit people, and whenever he does that, we will tell him that it is wrong. But at least gotta give him credit for being sensitive to what irks us the most.

I'm front facing now!

Since Bryan is 1 year old now and is above 20 pounds, he has met the minimum requirement to sit in a front facing child car seat.

So we turned his seat around, hoping that he will "enjoy" the view more and will be more cooperative in the car seat.

He was,..for the first few minutes. He went "Aeiii" when we placed him in his NEW seat arrangement and was happy that he can see his daddy from where he were.

But it was only a few minutes, before he started fretting again...hai.....

Fake cry...

If there's anything Bryan is good at pretending, it is pretending to cry. If he wants something, and we don't give it to him, he will pretend to cry.

He'll squint his eyes and open his mouth wide wide and make sniffling sound with his nose. Pretty hilarious. Always give hubby and me a good laugh when he does it.

But as soon as we give in to him, he'll be at la-la land again.

I wonder how ALL babies learn to "pretend" from such a young age.