Fever yesterday

R had a slight temperature yesterday. She was still her active self, although a bit cranky, so we attributed the fever to her teething!!!! She hates getting her temperature taken, but she seemed ok when we put on the Cool Fever sticker on her forehead!

Funny things Rachel did this morning

Today, R was really active this morning...

1) When I was trying to nurse her, instead of nursing, she brought out her pincer grasp, and pinch her food source!!!! And started giggling after that!

2) I put her down after that, and she came to me, and put her mouth against my belly button instead....

3) When I finally got her settled down to nurse, she was nursing, and glanced sideway at me, and started poking her fingers into my nose! And when I scolded her, she started grinning, still with the food source in her mouth!!!!

4) I was sitting on the chair in front of the computer, and she came to the back, pulled up against the chair and started pulling my underwear out of my pants!

5) With the TV on, she went in front of the TV, and started kissing the characters! So, I had to switch off the TV. Then, she started pressing the TV, everywhere! (I think she was trying to switch on the TV). *Frasier was on TV then.

Turning back time?

Yesterday, when R turned 9 months, hubby and I brought out the book What to Expect The First Year .We realised we did not do some of the developmental games suggested in the book. For e.g, teaching R the anatomy of the face....Nose, Eyes, Mouth, Ears.... Hopefully, it's not too late to start now?! And we were supposed to "explain" everything to her, especially new things she comes into contact with....and obviously, I don't do that too often..... Would it have made a difference for her development, if I would have done so? Could we turn back time so that I can start over again?

Rachel has not put on as much weight as she's supposed to, according to the percentile graph. And obviously, I started worrying after weighing her in the baby clinic yesterday. The nurse reassured me that it should be fine, as R is really mobile and active now, and she is still on breast milk. I wonder whether I am feeding her enough? I wonder whether she is growing ok? All these questions!!!! Any good answers to them????!!!!

9 big months

Rachel is NINE months today.

She has grown a lot these past 9 months, and we are still very much amazed with the things that she does every single day.

Stats:
Weight : 9kg
Height : 69.5cm
No of teeth : NONE

Favourite toys : Her wooden walker and fimbles radio
Favourite song : Happy and you know it

R has started biting me when she nurses. She has no teeth yet, but it is still pretty painful. To indicate her wants, she will stomp her feet and cry and shake her body. She is definitely getting more skilled in getting her wants!

Her favourite phrase is still DADA.... and her favourite source of food is still my breasts! She still wakes up 3 to 5 times at night.

She is definitely very mobile. She has started cruising faster along the furnitures, and she definitely loves walking with her wooden walker. She can stand alone momentarily and we are hoping that she will be able to walk soon! (We have already bought her a harness for that....!)

She loves cheery songs, and bounces to cheery rhythms. She squeals in high pitch, and she speaks gibberish.....which sounds like she knows what she's talking about... She hates the sound of my hair dryer, and will protest and seek her daddy's comfort when I switch it on. Her daddy seems to be her favourite person in the world now, as she freely breaks into toothless grins for him. She laughs and giggles real loud when playing with daddy, and her favourite time is their playtime when I am cooking.

R finds it amusing when hubby and I are affectionate with each other. She wants to be part of our hugs and kisses:) No sign of jealousy there though....so that's good news.

A good Sunday

We had a good day today. Dim Sum, then straight to Princes Street park. R and I had fun playing bubbles, and as we were sitting on a slightly cliffy part of the park, R had great fun trying NOT to roll down the cliff:)

I know where Elvis Presley is!!!!

Feather weight?! ahhhh...NO!

We put R's unused cot in the hall, as we thought it might be conducive for me to put her in the cot, when I need to do some chores in the kitchen. Hubby was sleeping next to the cot today, while R was playing. We were not sure what she wanted to do. R just crawled to hubby's side, started clamouring over his body, and suddenly, she was standing on his belly/chest, holding the side of the cot! She must think that she's light!!!!!
R does this stepping on us quite often, especially in the morning, when we let her play on our bed, while we try to register how early it is to be awake! She seems to have no problem climbing over us, stepping on our tummies and kicking our sides to push herself up!

New Discovery

R has discovered something new. She can put her fingers in anything that looks like a hole.....my mouth, daddy's mouth, my nose, daddy's nose, the hole in the hall's pillow, the opening of the floppy disk drive....and the latest, my belly button! She finds it so amusing to poke her finger into my belly button and sees what my reaction is. To appease her satisfaction, I will flab my tummy a bit and make silly sounds....and she gets so tickled....so easily satisfied:) And she can keep on poking and giggling for 15 minutes, just on Mummy's belly button!!!!

Advanced Music Appreciation

how boring

the weather has been sooooooo fickle for the last 2 weeks. R and I are sort of stuck at home, with not much to do. So, R has developed this "swing" from one leg to the other game by herself. What she does is, she hold on to one of her high chair's leg....then, try to hold on to the other....then release the other hand and stretch out and try to reach out to the other leg.....and while doing all this, she will be either singing in a squeaky voice, or calling out to her "dadadadada" or just saying "jajajajajajaja".....no "mamamama" yet.......so sad.
when hubby sees her doing this....he asks why she is pole dancing.....

oh yah...she has developed this habit of sticking her tongue out to one side as well!

and now, when i ask where her stuffed toy dog is.....

Mummy : "Rachel, where's dog?"
Rachel : glance at her toy dog, reach for it and go..."dddh...ddhhh...g" (don't think she can pronounce dog yet, but at least she knows who's dog...)

*looks like DOG will get acknowledgement first before mummy.....so so sad

*Additional note: She is actually "tarzanning" from one pole to the other!

Check out the new Speedos!!

Went swimming with R today!!!

And the award goes to......DADA!

Yup, for nearly 9 months, we were wondering who R will call first. DADDY or MUMMY.

Looks like DADA won.....and hubby is definitely very proud of that. He even claims that he heard R calling out "Hellooo DADA" this morning.... *my eyes rolling up*

When R wakes up in the morning, she will start calling from her bed on the floor...."DADA, DADA..." and starts pulling herself up to stand by our bed, tiptoeing, trying to catch a glimpse of her daddy on the bed, sleeping.....and she does ALL this, when her poor mummy, who has stayed up to feed her a few times over the night, is sleeping next to her on the floor!!!!!

Hmmmppphhh...definitely Daddy's girl....

And she will break into toothless grins (albeit being in a bad mood), when her daddy walks into the room, or when her daddy comes back from school.....sighhhh.......

Yummy

Haircut

Gave R a haircut today. Well, it's just a few snips off her fringe, but it's a big deal to us, as R has few precious hair:)

Hubby was in the bathroom when I chomped off some of her fringe. Otherwise, there would have been some protests coming from him.

Does my hair-snipping skills do justice for R?

Hmmm....can't tell much difference, isn't it?

Food for the week

Made porridge for the week (for R).....something new, from Amy Beh's KUALI

The colour is not very appetizing. But it does taste good, if I must say so myself:) The green stuffs are spinach.

Imperfect skin, next to Rachel

I debated with myself whether I should post this pic up. It's not a very nice pic of me, although it is a great one for R. But then, decided....what the heck, I wanted to show off how perfect R's skin is.... and wanted to stress how imperfect my skin has become due to hormonal changes after my pregnancy (note all the freckles...some may call it cute...but it's not very cute to me!) ....Am not complaining....my daughter's perfect skin is worth it....

I have tried to "hue" out the tones on the pic that stresses on my freckles, but does not seem to work!

An Angel when ZZZZzzzzz.......

Beauty Queen wave

No, am not saying R is a beauty queen. Am just saying that she has started this mode of waving like one. Will have to try to capture those moments on my camera or on video. But everytime she does something, and I bring out the camera, she will stop doing whatever I wanted to capture....

Oh...the beauty queen wave. Well, it's not just the normal hands waving that we do. She actually twists her hands from wrist up, side to side....not the flapping of hands....but the elegant and eh...hem....graceful twist of the wrist! And the cutest part is, when she walks with her walker. She will stop midway, and "beauty queen" wave with her RIGHT hand...then proceed walking...then stop, and "beauty queen" wave with her LEFT hand! I wonder where she learnt this!

Will definitely try to capture this on video...

Difficult nights

For the last two nights, R has been waking up every hour, sitting up, crying and crying...and crying....She could only be comforted if I nurse her. And when I thought she was asleep, and tried to put her down, she started screaming again.
The single space we have on the floor for her is definitely not enough for both R and I. My whole back and shoulders ache now, from sleeping with my legs curled up, on one side. And her food source is definitely very sore now.

And that's 2 nights in a row.....I wonder how many more I can take.

My theory is....She's teething!?!?!?! Just a theory?!

And this morning, R was trying to tell us that she needed to poop. It was breakfast time, and I was feeding her in her highchair. She was making lots of noise, and she was squirming around on her chair. We did not take the hint from her, and the poor girl had to poop in her nappies. I feel so so so so guilty now......

In a good mood

Here, R is having a dried apricot....
In a good mood....

But only lasted for a couple of hours....

New Shoes

Boys

It's every parent's nightmare, if their daughter grows up to fast, and start "liking" boys. At what age will I have to expect my little girl to start that development, I always wonder.......

On Monday, R and I went to the baby group at Springwell Center. Lots of babies with their mummies turned up, and it was nice seeing them crawl around, and crawl on each other. I put R in a skirt that day ( a skirt with shorts attached). Anyway, one of the little boys came round to R, and started pulling at her skirt! It was quite a sight. Especially when R allowed him to do so:) Then, the boy's mummy came over and told him...."NO"...
I was quite a diplomatic mom. I just told the boy...."Maybe when you are older?!"
And his mummy said...."Yes, when you guys are 42 of age!"

hahaha...two things....

1 - I wonder whether I could be this diplomatic if R is 19 years old instead of 9 months!
2 - At the age of 42? I wonder whether I would have learnt how to "let go" by then..... Now, I understand how my parents feel......wanting to be protective, and yet, wanting to be diplomatic....what a weird combo.

And in the cinema, when R was seeking out this other little boy's attention, basking in his smiles...I started picturing her, as a teenager, bringing guys home! There and then, I made up my mind that we should try our best to put her in an all-girls school....as long as we can!!!!

My latest chew toy

This is R's latest chew toy....made of wood, gift from Auntie Billie. Not meant to be a chew toy though...

Mission Impossible a success

R and I went to ODEON this morning, for Mission Impossible III! We left home really early, in case we can't get tickets....duhhhhh.....it's Baby ODEON for parents with babies.....plenty of tickets and seats...

Anyway, we arrived early and the cinema was not open yet. So, strolled into Woolsworth just to pass time. Managed to spend some money there though....bought a pair of pink shoes for Rachel. Cloth ones, so that it won't hurt her feet.

After Woolsworth, we stood outside the cinema with a bunch of senior citizens. They were having the baby session and senior citizen sessions that morning. A lot of oooohhh....and ahhhhhh....and waving at R from them.

It was supposed to be R's naptime, but she refused to sleep in the cinema, as she wanted to climb the steps at the aisle.....and she was crawling around a lot as well! She crawled to this little boy who was sitting on the floor a few seats beside us, and started yakking with him. And she continuously seek out his companionship, whenever she can! Anyway, she slept for half the show, nursing... I know it's bad to let her just use me as a dummy when she sleeps....but I really wanted to watch the show!:) Anyhow, all in all, it was a good outing...beats waiting for the show to come out on TV or DVD!

Here, R was watching the trailers and advertisements before the start of the show
R in her own seat

no flushing

I really do not know how to start this flushing story. Long Long story.... it involves a neighbour, a plumber, and indirectly, it involves Rachel. Nothing much to do with Rachel and her development or what we did today. I just need an outlet to vent out my frustrations...

*A neighbour came to complain that water is dripping from a pipe outside our flat onto their window sill.
*A plumber was engaged to fix it, but did not do a very good job. Whenever we flush, it will be real noisy in the bedroom.
*A baby asleep in the bedroom....so, if any business done, whether it's number one or number 2, no flushing can be done.....arrrrrrrghhhhhh.....

And worse of all, it has caused a faulty shower in the bathroom....I have not had a good shower....with good pressure water....for a very very long time...

It's me complaining. R is not complaining at all. She's blissfully unaware of mummy's upset.

Anyway, I made the stew again. The one that I was making when R fell off the sofa. This time, I placed her on her highchair right beside the kitchen, switch on the TV for her, and gave her a biscuit. The stew tasted much better...

Don't mess with me

Sunday walk

R woke me up at 7am this morning...as usual. At first, she was just playing "around" me, as I was sleeping with her on the floor, until she hit her head against the wall, and started wailing. Sighhh...gone are the Sunday mornings sleep-ins.

Aunty Cze Yien and Uncle Robert invited us for Dim Sum and we had a great time, as this was one of those rare times that R was willing to sit on a high chair (in a restaurant) and let us eat in peace! She was quite chatty and she was great company to us:) After that, Uncle Robert dropped us at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Top notch place to hang out and picnic during spring and summer. High point for this place: it's FOC!

From the Botanical Gardens, we walked across to Inverleith Gardens, and made our way to Stockbridge, then to Princes street then back home. It was a looooooonnnnnng walk. took us one and half hours to walk home....but it was fun and good exercise for hubby and I! R was lounging in her stroller...
Don't think we can actually do these kind of walks in Malaysia next time! Too humid!

At home, R was rather chatty. Hubby and I took turns answering her chatter:) We do this all the time, albeit not understanding what she's saying. We want to be interactive, so that she will chat more:) So, our conversations are repetitively like this:

R : "wawa..dadada...kaka...nanana"
Us: "Yes ah..."

R : "ahhhhhhh.....mmmmmmm"
Us:"Is it..."

R : "daaaaaaaaaaaaaa......laaaaaa"
Us: "Really ahhh"

R : "mmmmm...mmmmm...mmm"
Us: "wAHHHH..."

A step up

Managed to catch R taking a step up onto her walker again. This time, with the camera in hand.

8 months and 2 weeks old

R spent the whole afternoon playing with Daddy. And I had time to prepare her food. This week's menu is chicken porridge, plums, pears and bananas. By the end of the day, R was still very energetic, but hubby was exhausted...

Instead of practicing her timid steps with her walker today, R discovered that she can actually ride on the walker standing up! When we were not looking, she actually went to the front of the wooden walker, held on to the bar and took a step up onto the walker! She was standing on the walker (both legs on the walker), when we realised what she was doing! Hubby then took her for a ride round our not-so-big living room, with her standing on the walker. Did not have the camera ready then. Missed out on that action.

New Skirt

Got R her very first skirt.

A visit to the Zoo

R and I went to the Edinburgh zoo with Aunty Leslie and Eva today. It's different from our usual activities, but it was still fun.

As the zoo is on a hill, we took the HILLTOP SAFARI (truck thingy) up to the peak, as it will take too much out of us to push Eva and Rachel up. After that, we strolled downhill, stopping near the Chimpanzees' home, for a mini picnic.

Here, R has some sunblock on....courtesy of Aunty Leslie
Here, we stopped at the Bongo's place, and Eva and Rachel were looking at them....or we were hoping that they would actually look at them!

Learning how to walk

Hubby is patient when playing with Rachel. Video shows him taking care of her while she learns how to walk with her wooden walker/toddle.

Fascinating Keyhole

R finds the apartment's front door fascinating. When hubby leaves for school everyday, she will then crawl to the door, and play with the keyhole (which is within her reach). She will chat with the keyhole and dangle the cover to the keyhole. It is a fascinating object to her:)

NO

Scene 1:

Rachel crawls fast towards the lamp, reaching out for the electrical plug.

Mummy: Rachel, NO... mummy says NO...don't touch that wire....NO!
Rachel : *whimpers*, *look at me*, *put on a pitiful face*, *cries and put her face down onto the floor*
After 5 seconds, she looks up, and crawls off to her next target.

Scene 2:

Rachel crawls to the kitchen.

Mummy: Rachel, NO... mummy says NO...don't go into the kitchen. It's hot and dangerous....NO!
Rachel : *whimpers*, *look at me*, *put on a pitiful face*, *cries and put her face down onto the floor*
After 5 seconds, she looks up, and crawls off to her next target.

Scene 3:

Rachel picks up Daddy's slippers to chew.

Mummy: Rachel, NO... mummy says NO...Daddy's slippers are DIRTY!....NO!
(I then snatch the slippers from her grip)
Rachel : *whimpers*, *look at me*, *put on a pitiful face*, *cries and put her face down onto the floor*
After 5 seconds, she looks up, and crawls off to her next target.

And this routine went on for quite a number of times today... A lot of big "no-no's" today... I am exhausted...

Rachel & I

My life....in two complete sentences

"I would like to tell you my story...in two complete sentences"

Peekaboo

Gilmore Girls

Just watched the last episode of season 6. Have been following Gilmore Girls since it started and it's a fantasy of mine, to have a relationship with Rachel (since even before R was conceived) like that of Rory and Lorelai. Wonder whether it will ever become a reality...

Graduation

R is on her way to graduating from a lower coffee table to our study table...

Since she was in her 6th month, she has started pulling herself up to stand. First it was the sofa, then it was the lazy chair (which was her favourite for over a month!) For the last one month, it was the coffee table which we initially had our computer on. We removed it, and put a spare keyboard there for her to pound on. So, that was her favourite "pull-up to stand" table.

Today, she attempted to "graduate" to the higher study table, by pulling up whilst holding the legs, and tip-toeing, trying to reach out to the table top. Of course, our dear girl is a petite (eh...hem, gotta be diplomatic in calling her short) girl and she finds it difficult to reach the top. And then, she tumbles forward. Gosh, if only we can put on helmets, shoulder pads, knee pads, elbow pads ....or maybe just bubble wrap her. It's so painful seeing her tumble and fall, and also, so painful trying to hold back my shout when she falls. (If I shout, the fall will be more "painful" for her)

Anyway, back to the bubble wrap thing. I seriously wonder whether there's such technology where we can do that. I know, I know.....experts, doctors and experienced parents always tell me how robust a baby/kid can be...... I think the bubble wrap is more for my peace of mind rather than the kid.....sighhhhhhhh.....

A long way

A trip down memory lane...

Bad poo week

Up till last week, R has been really consistent in poo-ing into her potty, rather than her nappies. She is not potty trained. Just that, we consistently put her on the potty to allow her to do either her number one or number two. It's more of training on our side rather than hers.

Anyhow, I have been reading the Gina Ford's "Potty Training In One Week" and the book stresses that a child CANNOT be potty trained, unless s/he can actually control their movements, or is aware of their movements.

Back to the main story. R has been really consistent in poo-ing into her potty up till this week. She suddenly refuses to sit on the potty long. She even fights and cries out when I try to put her on. I know I should not be frustrated, as she is still quite young, but it's just that she has been so good in this department, and it seems such a waste to have to go back to square one! This week, she has poo-ed twice in her nappies already. Sighhh....I really hope this is just a passing phase, and she will go back to poo-ing in her potty. In the mean time, I need to learn how to control my frustrations!

Spoilt

Hubby and I have come to a conclusion: R is spoilt and will be spoilt.

How did we come to this conclusion?

She seems to know how to "get her own way" by screaming, and yelling and by faking tears. And she has learnt how to stamp her feet in frustration as well. It's quite disturbing that we get tricked everytime she does it. It's like falling into a trap set by someone who has not even learned how to walk or talk yet! Is it too young to actually bring discipline into R's life? Is it too soon to actually start thinking whether to spank or not? Don't think R can understand what "You are grounded" means... She does understand the loud "NO", but may not obey it.

Hubby reckons that we should practice the bad cop, good cop technique. And guess who he suggested to be the bad cop....yours truly here.

I hope Rachel will understand why her mummy has to play bad cop for the next 15 years of her life....Daddy's fault, of course!

Laundry

I just did our laundry and noticed how much clothes R goes through everyday! And a lot of her clothes, flannels and bibs are covered with food stains that I can't seem to remove. Will this reflect badly on me as a mother? I do try to get them out by handwashing (before the machine), and scraping the bits and pieces of food with my finger nails...but, stains ARE stubborn...

Music Appreciation

When I was pregnant with R from the 4th month onwards, I made it a point to spend 20 minutes every other night with the fetal headphones thingy which I attached to my tummy. I put on a variety of music, from Jim Brickman to Norah Jones to Chinese, Korean and Japanese songs. And whenever I felt that R was not kicking or moving a lot in my womb, I would pop these fetal headphones on, to stimulate her. And she did kick extra harder in my womb when I play music. I still wonder whether babies can actually hear the music from inside the womb...

Anyway, I noticed that R loves music. Any kind. She loves the advertisement jingles, and she loves her rhymes. And she loves to hear me sing, although hubby claims that I am the first girl he meets who can't sing. One of her favourite item in her basket of toys is the little Fimbles radio that her Aunty May and Uncle Wei Keat bought for her. And she headbangs and claps to the music...

Porridge

I am so happy that R loves this particular non-sweet meal that I have cooked for her. It's chicken porridge with broccoli, carrots and potato!
I hope I am not jinxing it by saying it out loud (or writing it down).

ALAS! Something "non-sweet solid" that she willingly opens her mouth for!

For me, a jobless full-time housewife-mom, I guess this an accomplishment!

Fun weekend

We all had a busy and fun weekend. My sis and cousin from London visited, and Rachel was so happy and busy getting to know them. I had quite some time to do a bit of housework, as we had a couple of extra hands helping with Rachel. And that was great fun for me too!

Saturday:

Packed chicken burgers and tuna sandwich for a picnic at the park...Lasted for maybe an hour, before it started to drizzle.....so so sad.....only used our red picnic mat for an hour...(hmmm...must start keeping track of the depreciation of my GBP3.99 for the mat)... Rachel still got a bit of crawling on the grass in that hour.

Then, we adjourned to nearby Starbucks for a cuppa, as everyone seems to be in need of some caffeine. Saturday....raining...not in bed....that's why caffeine was important! Then, we headed home, where Rachel got to know her aunties better....

Sunday:

Hubby rented a car, to take us to Livingston for some shopping. It was great fun, though leaving a dent in our pockets. As usual, R was the biggest shopper among all of us...hahaha....Lotsa clothes, and also, we bought the safety corners thingy (alas) from Mothercare to safe-proof her favourite table... It's something different, and R has started using it as one of her chew toys! Ain't surprise about it.

Oh, on another note. R has started using her wooden walker as means of transport for herself:( Sighhh....she does not seem to want to take her timid steps with it anymore...

In need of whitening products...

Weather has been considerably good since Thursday, and R and I have been out in the sun quite a bit. We were picniking with Aunty Leslie and Eva in Harrison's park on Friday, and it was great great fun! Great Great sun as well. Rachel had great fun with Aunty Leslie and Eva!

I have considerably tanned quite a bit, and this has prompted a "wah, you are darker" comment from my hubby! hahahaha....time to bring out my SKII products? The whitening ones!

Nonetheless, we had a great time, and will continue taking advantage of the sunshine! Bought a picnic mat from Woolsworth at a really cheap price, and will definitely take R out more often! Make full use of the GBP3.99 mat!:)

Expensive meals

Rachel crying for attention after her nap....those tears do look real

For fruits, I have been feeding Rachel with apples, pears and bananas. These are the most common fruits and also, the ones which are affordable. So, it's always a combo of all three, or just one or two of them for her dessert. Then, I realised that I should expand her fruits diet to something else. So, went to shop for peaches and nectarine. And I came back empty handed, as I was shocked at how much they cost! A small peach or nectarine can cost a pound each! That's like RM6.50 each! I need to get over this shock before I can brave the trip to get her different fruits now:)

We did give her mango, when it was cheap here. A slice or two during dinner, for her to chomp on it for the juice. Rachel loves it! I remember taking lots of mango during my pregnancy, to my mother in law's chagrin. (She believes that the baby will be born with loads of buoys if one takes mango during pregnancy)... I wonder whether Rachel's palate for mangoes developed when I was pregnant with her?!

Indoor activities

We had to stay in today, as BC "accidentally" took my keys with him to school.... My guess is, he does not want to miss out our outdoor activities, so, it's his way of telling us to stay in:)

So, I had to entertain Rachel inside the house!
Here, she's watching the Tweenies on BBC:)



Rachel was extra chatty when BC came home today. She was chatting non-stop, even when she was drinking and eating!

Green grass again

Rachel seems to like crawling on grass. Rachel and I took a stroll down to Princes Street park yesterday. It was such good weather. She loves crawling on the grass, and picking up little sticks, and grass which I will knock out of her hand straightaway. This time, I remembered to bring wet tissues to clean her hands after, so, Rachel was allowed to roam a bit on her own:)

But I was vary of the pigeons and seagulls flying nearby, as there's a bird flu case in Fife, which is near here. And there was this big Alsatian dog running around on the park. Big dogs should not be unleashed in public. It's really scary, especially when the dog is bigger in size than us!

What to do, and what not to do

Everytime I take a shower, or when I am nursing Rachel, I will start thinking of how differently I will do this motherhood thing with my future kids:) (BC thinks I definitely have too much time on my hand)...

So, I have decided to make a list...and this is maybe just part of it?! I will start with things to repeat, coz that seems to be a shorter list:)

Things to repeat:
1) BREASTFEED
2) Start trying to potty baby during big business from 1 months old

hmmm....that seems to be the end of it?!

Things NOT to repeat:
1) Rush to baby's side, carry and pamper WHENEVER baby whimpers
2) No bottlefeeding until breastfeeding established.....(believe me, I should have started bottlefeeding the moment we reach home...Rachel DOES NOT even allow me to put the teat into her mouth...even when she's sleeping.....biggest mistake ever made)
3) Stressed over breastfeeding
4) Buy lots of cute cute expensive clothes (they grow up too fast...)
5) Do the fulltime mommy thing, without letting the baby be cared by others (very very sticky man)
6) Nurse until baby falls asleep.....and risk being a walking dummy for the baby

Hmmm....this list will go on, as I take more showers...will need to find a place to put it so that I can update it every now and then!

Swimming today!

Rachel and I went to Dalry Public Bath for a swim today. This pic shows Rachel getting ready to go, in her hot pink swimpants:
It was quite chilly today, but I guess Rachel's quite used to it.

It is quite a lot of work, to take Rachel swimming alone. I asked myself why I still do it. Then, when I see how happy she is kicking in the water, I realised that all the work is worth it:)

BC is really into teaching Rachel how to walk now:) When he's back from school, he patiently teach Rachel how to take small steps with her new walker:) And she likes it! Good buy!

72 hours...

72 hours has passed since I fumbled and Rachel fell off the sofa. She seems to be ok, so I guess we could sleep more soundly tonight:)

A picture here shows Rachel trying to do ballet splits! We do wonder what Rachel will do when she grows up. Maybe something as exotic as a belly dancer? or maybe a golfer? (loads of money if she's good!!!) fat hopes on my side???

We have decommissioned Rachel's baby cot, as she refuses to stay in the cot at night! Even with a sleeping bag, she will cry for attention, and stand up in the cot... it's quite amazing, seeing her stand up, with her sleeping bag on!

So, we are now using the cot as a barrier, between 2 walls, creating an oasis for Rachel on the floor, next to our bed. I end up sleeping on the floor half the night, as I am too lazy to climb up to bed after settling her down.