Month 7

Amongst my achievements on my 7th mos were;

. i love to shout really loud
. i eat 3 meals a day
. i drink Dulac (Dumex)
. i can move very fast when i'm in the walker
. i can crawl (classic style)
. no sign of separation anxiety

When Daddy came, Mommy refused to take me to the airport because of the swine flu outbreak. So, i only see Daddy when they reached home. I wasn't scared of Daddy considering that he was a total stranger to me at that moment.

Before leaving to Kuching, Mommy organised a small gathering dinner at home. Most of our relatives came. Mommy friends were there too. Aunty Hazel and Aunty Uding. Aunty Hazel came to meet us at the airport too.

Then, on the 18.07, we left to Kuching. Uyi, Ulai, Mak Wie, Pak Doiq, Aunty Jess and Papa sent us to the airport. Mommy was crying (she always does), and so were Uyi and Ulai. They were so sad for letting me go. Uyi even grabbed me for one last kiss right before we entered the boarding hall. That night was my first experience travelling on an aeroplane.

During the take off, i was crying so loud. Even though Mommy gave me the pacifier to suck to avoid the ear pressure. After few minutes taking off, i fell asleep. I slept all the way to Kuching and only woke up when we were taking our luggage.

In Kuching, we spent 2 nights at Damai Beach Resort. Thanks to Babai for the nice hotel room. Then, we went to kampung. And the rest of the week were spent with visiting relatives there. And next stop was KL.

I was all fine during our flight to KL. We took ERL to KL Sentral (my first ride) and met Uko and Aunty Babra there. Babai was on the way to India for conference. In KL, we spent our days in Babai's place and meeting Mommy's friends. Then, on the 1.8, we left to Bahrain. Again another flight for me. But, i survived the long hours flight by sleeping all the way. I did woke up for few minutes and played with Mommy, drink my milk and then back to sleep.

When we reached Bahrain, it was summer. I find the weather was too hot. Sometimes, i would just sleep wearing only diaper. Since it was a new place for me, i was scared to be left alone. It was so quiet around the house as there were only me and Mommy. So, everytime i can't find Mommy, i'll scream on top of my lung! Mommy had to make sure that she is always in sight even when she's in the washroom. At this time, i spent most of my time in the walker while mommy does her works.

Month 6

Now that i'm 6 months old, I
- can hold head steadily when on tummy
- lunges forward but not crawling yet. Moving in circle.
- can grab and hold small object, then put it in my mouth
- am attracted to bright colours or any objects around me
- loves to smile and laugh

Middle of the month, all of us went to Miri. As for me and mommy, that was for good. Mommy was too tired of moving around anymore.

On Daddy's birthday (21/06), we went to Brunei Darusalam for my Uncle Haji Malik's wedding. It was also Father's Day but Daddy was not around still. I will be seeing him next month. The trip to Brunei was my first trip outside the country, hence now my new passport is being used.

Mommy and me were looking forward to meet Daddy.

Month 5

At 5 mos;
- I rolls on my tummy and back
- I rocks side to side when i'm on my tummy
- I babbles a lot that my cousin Suting (2years old) thinks i was too noisy and disturb her sleep
"Milan ni...jangan bising. orang nak tido pun tak koleh"
*koleh = boleh
- when Mommy works in the kitchen, i'll be in the stroller and Suting will watch me
- my first time in walker, stroller and mosquito net
- i can put my pacifier into my mouth myself
- I love to play with my hands and feet (sometimes i put my toes in my mouth!)
- I can recognizes my own name
- I can sit for a short moment without support
- I love meeting people. I don't mind being carried by just anyone, but i'll cry when i see my Uyi

Living in kampung was totally a whole new experience for me. There was no car. Only sound of nature. We had to sleep in mosquito net at night and it was so warm during the day, that my Ulai would have to start our fueled operated generator. When i squeaked even just for a bit, my Ulai thought that i can't take the heat. We bathe with the water from the river. Sometimes Mommy would carry two pails and get some water for me to bathe. There were mosquito bites on my skin. But despite all that, Mommy was happy for us. She wanted me to experience the life in a place where she grew up. Meeting the people.

Mommy makes sure that i have supplies of medicines (flu, cough, fever etc.) since there is no clinic nearby. The nearest is in Marudi town (1hr1/2 express boat ride). Same thing goes for my diapers and formula.

During the day, we normally sits at the 'ruai' because it was quite windy outside. In the evening, we would do some gardening. Uyi planted some spinach for my porridge.

Mak Wie (mom's younger sister) was there too for her semester break. Now, Mommy gets to rest since Mak Wie helped with the housework and Uyi helped to take care of me.

Month 4

Now i;

- smiles to everyone
- blows bubbles
- bounces / stomp my feet when held standing up
- loves to bite my lower lips (mommy thought i had itchy gums)
- goes goo..goo...when you play with me
- had my first solid food (strained rice porridge)
- sometimes switch formula to Enfagrow A+ from Snow (Mommy thought i might not like the taste of Snow anymore). But still i don't drink much milk
- likes to shout on top of my lungs and laughs
- had the first touch of flower
- when lying down, i like to lift up my bum-bum and by doing that i can move around somehow...hehe

The next month, Mommy and me moved to our kampung. It was an hour and 1/2 from express boat ride from where we stayed. Uyi and Ulai came to pick us up.

Month 3

At 3mos, I
- shouts and laughs
- don't really drink milk (breastmilk / formula)
- mommy bmilk dropped and finally stopped sometimes around end of the month
- sucks fingers
- roll on tummy
- hold my head steadily
- weighs 5kgs

Mommy has decided to stop breastfeeding. Since her breastmilk production has decreased, she wanted to concentrate on feeding me with formula. Another reason would be, to avoid nipple confusion which she thinks i was having at the moment. Somehow, i didn't drink much milk at this point. Mommy was worried that i might feel hungry. But suprisingly, i was all happy and jolly despite of the little milk intake. Maybe, that is why my weight was not increasing much.

We were in Lubok Nibong still. Sometimes, during the weekends we will visit Fen in Stapang or vice versa. Sometimes, Uyi and Ulai would come from kampung and stayed with us for few days. I now sleeps in 'buai'.

Another cousin stays nearby. She is a fully breastfeed baby, Alyssa Elim. She was born on 21.12. My Uyi said i was louder than Elim. Elim is quiter and softer than i am.

Month 2

Sometime last month (Jan-2009), Mommy and me moved from Stapang to another place where my Uyi Yee works, Lubok Nibong. Mommy was so relieved that she is now 'closer' to her 'walking bible of babycare'. My Mommy normally will search anything online when she has no clue what's happening with me. And it was difficult for her since the place we were staying has limited connection to internet since we were using a broadband Daddy bought for us.

And it was this month that i wasn't feeling so well. I had blocked tear duct and sniffles at the same time. I find it difficult to sleep with my blocked nose. And sometimes i would threw up my milk when i coughed. Mommy was so worried that whenever i cried, she'll cry too. Mommy had to put some breastmilk into my eyes to cure the eyes part but for sniffles we had to travel to Miri to see my pediatrician in MCMC. My pediatrician used some kind of machine to suck the mucus and prescribed some medicines with antibotics. Then i was alright.

At 2 mos;

1. I gurgles and coos
2. Follow objects and sound
3. Hold my head up steadily
4. I smiles and laughs
5. Weighs at 4.3kgs
6. Mix feed (breastmilk + formula-Snow)
7. I wakes up more during the day and i love watching tv or play with Mommy
8. Some people told Mommy that i have strong bones

Month 1

Note:Mommy is so sorry for neglecting this blog for quite sometime. She was just trying to figure out how to start writing about my monthly progress.


When we reached home the next day, 27th Dec, all my cousins were waiting anxiously for me. They were wondering how does i looked like. They have been waiting for me since i was in mommy's belly. Cousin Alyssa even told mommy that she can talked to me. She said she can hear me cry and according to her i like flower. She then picked a flower from the grass outside the house and gave it to mommy. And Danish gave his baby blanket (which Uyi made for him sometimes back in 2003).

The New Parents
The first week, Daddy and Mommy were trying to adapt to their new life as parents. Mommy was coping (or was it a struggle?) with the whole new experience of breastfeeding (read: engorgement / carrying two bricks on her chest) and she suffered post natal constipation too. I cried a lot during wee hours. Mommy said i started crying around 1am. And the only comfort that makes me sleep was breastfeeding. As soon as mommy put me down, i cried again. So, Daddy and Mommy took turn carrying me around the room and try to make me sleep. Sometimes, i'll just sleep in Daddy's arm.



Jaundice
Every morning, my Uyi would knocked on our bedroom door to take me for 'sunbathing'. They said, it is for speeding up my recovery from jaundice. Sometimes, Mommy would take over provided i didn't spend so much time crying the other night. I was lucky because my jaundice level reading was quite low. From as high as 8 to lowest at 5.


Baptism
On 03.01.2009, i was baptised in St Michael Catholic Church in Batu Niah. I was baptised together with cousin Ping Ping. Ping Ping was born 3 weeks earlier than me. We were baptised by Rev.Fr Philip Empalah.


Bon Voyage Daddy
On 13.01, Daddy left to KL. Leaving me and Mommy. We went to the airport together with Uyi and Ulai. I was sleeping all the time. Mommy felt so sad and was crying so badly. Uyi slept with us every night. Now, Daddy's role is taken over by Uyi. The next day, me, Mommy, Uyi and Ulai left to Marudi. Mommy and me are staying with Fen in Stapang. Two days after that, Uyi and Ulai had to leave to our kampung. That practically leave Mommy and me alone. Mommy had to take care of me all by herself. Sometimes, Fen will help. My Fen is too old to stay awake at night to help Mommy. So, whenever i cried at night Mommy will have to entertain me, and early in the morning she had to cook and do laundry (Mak Lik helped too). At this point Mommy was too stressed out. She was to tired. She would sms daddy every night. Sometimes, she cried when I cried. Poor Mommy. During the weekends, Uyi Yee would come over and helped Mommy. She is very nice and very good in handling babies. Mommy learned a lot from her.


Me
Among my progresses in Month 1 are:

1. Able to hold me head up at week 2
2. I can follow objects and sound
3. I can make "ga..ga" sound
4. I moved my arms and legs a lot
5. I weighed 3.8kgs
6. Stared at faces

I was mixed fed (breastmilk + formula-Snow).