Baby dAriuS is TWO months old...!

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pictures from Birth & Babies 2007 class:

Can u spot Darius? Dats obvious... He's a lucky boy...in between 2 girls...

how time flies...my little boy is 2 months old today...i thank GOD for keeping him healthy n safe...i pray everyday dat he will grow happily n healthily...

Darius is considered a good baby...since he does nt fuss unnecessarily...oli cries for his needs...but there are still days he jus wants mummy to carry him all day...n its so tiring as he is getting bigger n mummy's slim arms does nt have enuf muscles to carry him all the time...

but i'm glad the baby swing does the trick...n he's been starting to appreciate the lights n music from his baby gym...at least it could keep him entertained for awhile...

sometimes i really "pei fu" my granny n kuku...how did they manage to take care of 4 babies at a time during my baby days...which were at most 1 year of age apart...can u imagine the chaos of 4 babies...?

mama, kuku, i salute u!

today...brought Darius to the community health centre to weigh him...he is 14 lbs 10 oz / 6.62 kgs and 66 cm in length! According to the growth chart for boys...he is considered a big healthy baby! The public health nurse was very friendly n helpful...she checked on Darius n answered many of my paranoid qns...probably due to the cold n dry climate nw, she suggest i apply cream on the dry areas of his pretty face...she's worried he might b having a little eye infection as his eye wax is very greenish...will need to bring up to the doc next week at his 2-mth old regular checkup...She even praised me for a good job taking care of Darius...he looks like a well breast-fed baby...hehe...like my Yi Yi said...all good women are born with motherly instinct...

After dat went to library to borrow books n DVDs n CDs for him...since library card is free for him...hee...since Harry Potter is under the kid's corner...i borrowed for myself to read...there is also babies story telling sessions...sounds fun...

Kinda like the health care here...we pay 44 CAD each mth (per person) n get to see the doc as many times we want...go hospital oso dun need to pay...n there are many free resources from Calgary Health Region...every friday there is a Healthy Family Rep who will visit me at home for an hour...to teach me abt parenting n baby care...on her free days she might even accompany me to bring Darius out for his check ups n immunizations...n also they have a service called Respite where i can request for someone to come to my house n look after baby for up to 3 hrs...so dat i can rest or have some private time to myself...best part is it's free! they also have free day care which i could leave baby there up to 3 days if i have emergency matters to attend...bt no way am i using dat service...i cant even get thru half the day without Darius with me...probably when Darius is 3 mths old i can join the mum's club in my community...know other mums n make frens for Darius...

Recently i received a happy news...Darius is going to have a cousin come July! yeah...! Be it a mickey mouse or minnie mouse...i pray to GOD for a healthy mouse...hopefully nt a glutton mouse...like Darius' yi yi...haha...! Well...with the Whampoa Grand Cook (my granny), i'm sure mummy mouse is in for a great treat! lucky little mouse! Anyway i wish Sean n Ericia a blissful marriage n a healthy mousie! Share ur wedding pics when they r out k? Now i look forward returning to Sin even more...coz i'm an aunt now!

After a long blog...its bath time for Darius! stay tuned tmr for Darius' picture gallery...

Wat has motherhood done to me...

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Finally...! My first post in 2008!

SO fast...Darius is now 7 weeks plus...he is getting bigger n longer n cuter...!
Lately...he has longer wake periods in the day and talking alot of his baby language...
While i'm doing my chores, he would lie on the sofa n blabble away...making high pitch cues...
N his "bo-gay" smile...man...it could melt all the snow on Rocky Mountain...his smiles could make me tear uncontrollably... (so emotional...)
Its a joy to hear his oohs n arrhs...n yesterday i tink he said uh-oh....haha! hw i wish i could record it to share...its jus sooo cute...!

He also seems to enjoy his baths more n more...n wants attention all the time...gets cranky if i ignore him for too long...will sometimes fake crying to get my attention...smart boy! but still cant outsmart mummy...coz i can now differentiate his crying n know wat he wants...

He stares innocently at me with his big round eyes while i talk to him...n smiles back when i smile at him...imitates me when i stick my tongue out...sucks his hand when he is bored...
listens attentively when i read the newspaper to him...as if he understands wat i'm saying...
prefers me to his colorful toys...enjoys my singing n dancing...(yeah...i might look silly...) grabs my hair, pull my shirt n reach for my face while i bf him...

Motherhood has made me a less lazy person...n my bathe time has shorten by 50% to oli 30 mins...i eat alot faster now...am tidier than b4...my whole perspective has also changed...
everything on my mind is abt darius...he is definitely worth giving up the carefree n luxury life i used to have...

Everyday...other than the sickening chores to do...i enjoy his company n taking care of his every need...thank GOD i'm not working nw n is given the chance to watch him grow in his precious 1st year...time passed cannot b chased back...

Do i look handsome in my Baby GAP suit?!


Aren't these little hands n feet cute ?!?


Jus passed a mth old, Darius dislike being on his tummy...


On snowy Boxing Day...Darius looking bored in his car seat...


@ 6 weeks plus...lying on mummy's pillow...

Baby Darius is ONE Month Old!

Weather: Mostly Cloudy, -5°

I still remember the same time exactly one month ago...i was pushing hard to deliver darius into tiz world...and tinking back abt the labor pain i went thru...it was nothing compared to the pain i felt after birth when epi wears off...n the tiredness i felt during the first week...it made me missed preggy days...when i could sleep as long as i want...n at anytime i want...

But the past month...my life was totally in control by Darius...my little prince...i oli get to sleep when he sleeps...n if he wakes i have to wake too...if he's hungry i need to feed him first despite my stomach growling in hunger protest...

Family n frens will describe me as a "dead sleeper"...no matter hw many alarm clocks i have, i still cant hear a single one when it rings...bt yet nw i wake at the slightest sound made by Darius...I used to eat very slowly coz i like to enjoy my food n live to eat ...bt for the moment nw i need to eat to live becoz i'm the source of Darius' food...n hope to achieve my goal of nursing him for at least 6 mths...

The strongest feeling of motherhood is breastfeeding coz it makes me feel unique n special to Darius...as oli I can feed him the best...n the time n moments we share n bond...its a gift from GOD to mothers only...u never know how special it feels until u experience it...

Motherhood is still a long way for me n there is so much to learn everyday...but i'm enjoying every moment of it...

Darius' milestones so far:

* Has grown to 61 cm long...(growth of 8 cm from birth!)
* Weighs about 4.7 Kgs...
* Able to hold his head while sitting up...
* Able to hold his head up for 3 secs during tummy time...
* Starting to self-soothe himself to sleep...on good mood days only...
* Kicks strongly and likes to grasps on to mummy's shirt during nursing...

Mummy loves Darius...

Darius loves sitting up...

Mummy's first shopping trip with Darius

Jus Darius and Me...

Weather: Cloudy, -8°C

Yesterday my Mum left for Vancouver for holiday...and for the first time...its jus left me and Darius alone @ home...i felt a sudden sadness and helplessness...

Sad dat my mum is not with me...becoz i really enjoyed her company when she was here...Helpless without any help from my mum...

Coz usually in the morning when mum wakes up she will attend to crying Darius while i can have another precious hour of sleep...she will help to comfort him and soothe him to sleep after i nurse him...she will help to bathe him...she will help to change his diapers...she will also prepare meals for me... Now suddenly i have to do all these by myself...i feel so lost n alone...

But of coz i know dat she wont b here with me forever too...and the road to caring for Darius is a LONG LONG one...so its a matter of time i become independent...

Anyway i'm happy for her dat she get the chance to have fun in vancouver...coz she might not have chance in future to get such a long leave away from work...

I wonder how Emily is coping with Jayden...i kinda envy her dat she can get back to work soon in another month or so...but on the other hand i also cherished the chance to watch Darius grow in his first year of life...which is also the most important year...

Haiz...so contradicting...

Everytime we visit the doctor, the nurses will strip Darius down to weigh him...n he always scream n cry in protest...but seems like tiz time...he is in a good mood...he can even make faces @ the camera...

N listens attentively to Grandma speaking to him...

Thank You Mummy...!

Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 3°C

Time flies...by the end of tiz week Baby Darius will b 1 Month old! It's really a joy to watch him grow everyday...seeing that his milk intake in increasing...i know he is definitely growing well...

Sometimes even after nursing him for an hour...he can still take 100 ml of supplement formula...

Really thankful for my mum being here for me during tiz difficult time of my life...Becoz of her, i'm able to rest n remain cheerful after birth...i cant imagine how it will be if she never insisted on coming to help me...

Ever since Darius is born, it has been snowing almost everyday...n while i was in the hospital, mum take bus in minus zero °C to bring food for me at the hospital everyday...i'm so thankful that i dun need to eat the horrible hospital food...really thank GOD for her...

Now that i'm a mother myself...i know how hard it has been for my mother...esp when her husband dun give her the care n support she needs...

I'm thankful dat my husband is very supportive n patient with me during tiz period...

Mummy, i wanna say a BIG THANK YOU!

Grandma, Baby Darius will miss u when u return SIN!

Baby Darius...My bundle of JOY...

Weather: Clear, -5°C

Picking up from ware i stop in the previous post...

As common as it is with all babies, Baby Darius was admitted into PLC for jaundice on Day 3 of his life...he underwent 24 hours of phototheraphy...n the nurse came to prick his little foot for blood test every 12 hours to check on his jaundice level...poor little guy...my heart aches so much to see him cry helplessly...

By Day 4 Darius' jaundice level went down n he was off the phototheraphy...but the blood test results showed he has G6PD condition...n the doc said tiz is very common among Asian males...n its genetic...but he assures us dat it will not affect his development as he grows up...but there are some food n med dat he must avoid his whole life...n as a baby we should make sure he does not get any infection as tiz might trigger his red blood cells to break...n in severe cases he will need blood transfusion...but doc says tiz is very very rare...

So i went to find out more abt G6PD...actually some pple might have tiz condition they are not aware of until some food or med they take n caused a trigger...but in normal cases the red blood cells are able to build up on their own...so as adults its not really an issue of concern...

And because it is most common in Asian males, like out of 20 males, 5 have tiz condition, therefore the doctors here will always test for G6PD deficiency on Asian baby boys...

Darius @ birth...

Darius @ 19 Hours old...

Darius finally home @ 6 days old...snug in his own bed...

Darius @ 1 Week old...having his weight taken by the public health nurse...he has regained his birth weight! yeah!

Darius enjoying his swing...it always works when he is fussing...

Darius after a satisfied feed...making faces...

Darius jus loves the camera...

Darius having his afternoon nap with grandma...

Darius sitting @ the sofa watching TV...

Darius enjoying his bathe by grandma...

It's been a while

Weather: Flurries, -18°C

I know many faithful readers of my blog are anxiously waiting for my next post since the birth of my precious boy...finally today i have the time and thanks to hubby , i could afford a good sleep last nite...

My Birth Story

In the wee hours of 16th Nov...

2.45 AM - Woke up to pee

3.00 AM - Heard 2 "POP" sounds...den felt fluid gushing out...OMG! My waterbag broke !Quickly jump out of bed (as i did not want to wet the mattress) and rush to the toilet bowl...den felt more gushing out...contractions starts to come in...but was still bearable...took a quick shower...woke hubby and mum up...den called Whampoa to inform my waterbag broke! Ate toast with jam and drank cereal...

4.15 AM - Grab hospital bag and headed for Peter Lougheed Centre... By then contractions were coming every 5 mins and last almost 2 - 3 mins...but i can still feel baby's active movements...Felt better in the car so ask hubby to drive slower so i can enjoy the ride...

5.00 AM - Arrive at PLC Emergency and was wheeled to Birth Centre on the 3rd level...By then contractions were more intense and painful...While hubby went to register my admission, i was being monitored at the Triage Room...Had 2 monitors attached to my tummy for baby's heartbeat and my contractions...

6.30 AM - Nurse came in to check me and i was 2 cm dilated only...was advised to get up and walk around to "open" the pelvic...Contractions getting more painful and closer dat i lost count...

9.15 AM - Returned to the Triage room and was told to move to Labor and Delivery Room as doctor confirms real labor is here...(of coz lah...waterbag broke leh...send me hm and wait for 4cm dilation meh...?!?!) Nurse gave me an option for Morphine to relieve the pain but baby will b drowsy after birth...so i rejected...

10.00 AM - Settled down in the Labor and Delivery Room...Hubby gave me massage and count me thru every contractions...they were really getting more painful and closer...hubby suggested i sit in the warm shower and it did help me feel better...

12.30PM - Thank GOD! The anaesthetic doctor finally came for my epidural...finally i could have a good sleep...

2.30 PM - Nurse came in to check and i was almost 5 cm dilated already...

4.00 PM - Though i had epidural, i realised i could feel the pain from contractions getting more intense...i "beg" the doctor to up my dosage...

5.30 PM - Contractions were only 30 secs apart and getting more intense...i was losing my senses already...Nurse heard me screaming for help...She checked me and said i was ready to push! But my sickening hubby and mummy were out having dinner...! Nurse called them to rush back!

6.00 PM - Started to push actively at every contraction...

8.00 PM - Baby still not out...Doc tried to use vacuum twice but failed as baby has too much
hair... :) so the grip was not strong...Doc did episiotomy on me as she said baby is too big...

8.29PM - Baby Darius is born!

Doctor Baxter placed him on my tummy immediately but i was too exhausted to cuddle him...so he was carried away for the Pediatrics to check him...but his little hand clung tightly onto one of the monitor dat was strapped to my tummy...seems like he does not want to be away from mummy... hehe...

Vital Statistics

Weight: 3.81 Kgs / 8lbs 6.5 ozs
Length: 53 cm / 21.5 IN
Head Circumference: 36 Cm

Right after birth...Darius only wail once den he was so alert n cheerful while the doctors check him...sooo lovable...





Stay tuned for more posts n pics...